23 NGO offices not operating in Khagrachhari

At lest 23 local offices of three NGOs in remote areas of the hill district are not functioning since August 12 allegedly due to demand for toll by arms cadres of United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), according to police and officials of the NGOs yesterday
The offices are in Munigrame and nearby villages in Panchhari upazila.
The offices include 12 of Grameen Bank, five of ASA and six of Brac, they said.
Khagrachhari police and the NGO officials told this correspondent that arms cadres of UPDF demanded Tk 5 lakh toll to the NGOs in Sunday. As they did not fulfill the demand, the extortionists forced them to keep the offices closed, they said.
The extortionists also threatened all loanees belong to ethnic communities not to repay loan installments of, said Sneha Kumar Chakma of Munigrame village.
Grammen Bank manager Mohammad Mujibur Rahman said they have about 400 loanees in the area, who are supposed to repay about Tk 50,000 a week. But all activities are stopped, he said.
District Manager of ASA Bithika Chakma said their five offices are not functioning. Brac district Manager Suhashi Chakma also said his six offices are closed for about a week, they said.
Khagrachhari Sadar thana Officer-in-charge Kazi Helal Uddin said they are taking action in this regard.