Call to punish culprits gets louder

Different political, social and rights organisations have expressed concern over the tense situation in Baghaichhari in Rangamati where two indigenous people have so far been killed during clashes with Bangalee settlers.
Gonosanghati Andolan protested against the killings at its extended meeting of the central committee yesterday.
They demanded punishment of those responsible and announced a protest rally at Muktangon in the capital at 4:00pm today.
Leaders of the movement demanded that the government withdraw army from the hills and establish rights of the ethnic people.
Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) demanded that the government should form a separate investigation commission and make its report public.
Leaders of ALRD including Sultana Kamal, Khushi Kabir, Sara Hossain, Mohammad Iftekharuzzaman, MM Akash, Abul Barkat, Amena Mohsin, litterateur Selina Hossain, Sadeka Halim also demanded compensation for the victims.
They also demanded effective measures immediately to ensure security of the people.
The government should not make the incidents of rights violation a political issue. Rather, it should work for implementing the CHT Peace Agreement, they said.
Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR), Left Democratic Alliance and Workers Party of Bangladesh also expressed deep concern and condemned the arson attack on the houses of indigenous people.
Workers Party of Bangladesh demanded the prime minister's intervention to settle the issue and legal steps against the withdrawn Baghaichhari upazila nirbahi officer.
Nagorik Uddyog protested against "repression" of ethnic community and demanded compensation for the victims. They also demanded punishment of the criminals who carried out the arson and made people homeless.
The citizen's forum also demanded complete implementation of the CHT Peace Accord for bringing peace in the hilly areas.
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has already sent a five-member team to the aid of the victims. The team will assess the damage and prepare a report related to the needs of the hill people.
Meanwhile, former adviser to the caretaker government Sultana Kamal urged the government to implement the peace accord and make the CHT Land Commission effective.
She was addressing a programme for inauguration of a library in Madaripur, reports A Correspondent from the district.
Sultana said the recent violence in Baghaichhari would not have taken place had the government withdrawn army beforehand in accordance with the peace accord.
The government should enquire into the violence that took place within only three to four hundred yards of an army camp, she noted.