Normalcy yet to return in Rangamati
Normalcy yet to return in Rangamati
Though the ban on public gathering in the district was withdrawn yesterday, life in Rangamati was yet to return to normalcy.
A small number of people were at local marketplaces with the district administration tightening security and local politicians hoping for calmer days ahead.
This correspondent visited the College Gate weekly bazaar yesterday only to find a handful of people there.
"This is very unusual for a Wednesday morning. A lot of people are supposed to be here on this day," said Md Borhan, standing outside his small restaurant named Panahar Sweets.
The people of Rangamati usually gather at the weekly bazaars in College Gate Tabalchhari, Banarupa and Reservebazar, looking for kitchen items and other daily essentials, he said.
"But today the market opened after three days but the presence of people is very disappointing,” said Borhan, blaming the situation on the recent violence.
On Saturday, Section 144 was clamped on the district after Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP), backed by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), clashed with pro-Awami League student and youth bodies Chhatra League and Jubo League during a blockade enforced by the PCP to protest the inauguration of a medical college in Rangamati.
The political clash triggered ethnic tension with reports of sporadic violence between the indigenous and the Bangalee settlers the next day, forcing the administration to clamp night-time curfews in Rangamati.
The local administration, however, was hopeful of restoring normalcy soon.
"Everything will be normal in a day or two,” Samshul Arefin, deputy commissioner of Rangamati, said in a meeting with journalists yesterday afternoon.
The political parties were asked not to hold rallies or processions without informing the administration, and law enforcers were deployed at important and strategic points of the town, he said.
A three-member committee was formed to probe the violence and it would submit a report in 10 days, he added.
The DC, however, declined to comment on rumours that the medical college might be relocated to Bandarban.
Meanwhile, a top leader of the PCJSS praised the role of the local administration in containing the situation.
"Some vested quarter was trying ... to trigger an ethnic clash here. But the army and the civil administration played a positive role and saved people's lives and properties,” said lawmaker Ushatun Talukder, also vice president of the PCJSS.
During a conversation with this reporter yesterday afternoon, he explained why the PCJSS was opposing the establishment of the medical college.
“We want the government to postpone it for now ... The hill people are facing many problems due to the CHT Peace Accord not being fully implemented. So we want the government to take care of other basic problems of the indigenous people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts before launching the medical college.
“Of course, we want the medical college. But the indigenous people would not be able to use this opportunity as they are not ready yet,” he said, arguing that this does not mean his party was against the government or opposing development.
Pointing to the fact that only four students from the district got GPA-5 in the last Higher Secondary Examination, the Rangamati MP said the government should improve the basic infrastructure of lower-level education first.
Meanwhile, visiting Rangamati Medical College yesterday, this correspondent found no students or administrative staff but heavy police presence on the campus.