Concern over violent clash at CHT

Different socio-political organisations have expressed concern over the violent clash involving indigenous people, Bangalee settlers and the army, torching houses and killings of at least two persons in Rangamati.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior joint secretary general of BNP, said, "Army presence is essential for peaceful coexistence and security of all in Chittagong Hill Tracts."
He was talking to reporters at his Uttara residence in Dhaka yesterday.
He said army pullout had seriously affected the coexistence of two communities in the area.
The BNP leader said security of Bangalee and indigenous people and their properties are now at stake because of the feud. "The government will have to take the responsibility and a quick response from the authorities concerned is needed to ensure the security of inhabitants in the hill area."
Terming the CHT a sensitive area, Fakhrul said BNP had been trying to convince the government not to withdraw the army from the places without having discussions first with parties concerned.
"The decision of army pullout was a blunder. We had expressed our concern at that time saying army withdrawal might invite catastrophic consequences," he said and demanded re-evaluation of the CHT Peace Treaty.
Workers Party of Bangladesh and Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) in separate statements expressed concern over the recent violence in the hill area.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, also a lawmaker, and General Secretary Anisur Rahman Mallik in a joint statement said the arson incident at Baghaichhari was the part of a conspiracy to foil the CHT treaty and to create unrest in the hill districts.
"It is unfortunate that the army encourage and to some extent interfere in such incident in hill areas," said the statement.
It added, "It is alleged that army interfered in the Baghaichhari incident."
They slammed the killings of five hill people and demanded exemplary punishment of the persons involved.
Signed by Mohammad Nur Khan, ASK in the statement demanded fair investigation into the matter and trial of the persons responsible for the unrest. It also demanded compensation for the victims of the Baghaichhari clash.