The Amnesty International, a human rights watchdog, has urged the Bangladesh government to bring to justice those responsible for the arson attacks on three hill villages in Langadu upazila of Rangamari district.
The AI made the call in a report published on its website on Monday.
It also urged the government to investigate the vicious mob attack on indigenous people in Langadu upazila of the district, and initiate a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the attacks and make the result of this investigation public and ensure that those suspected to be responsible are prosecuted in fair and transparent trials, without resorting to the death penalty.
The AI also called for taking effective steps to prevent the recurrence of any such attacks and other measures to ensure protection of members of indigenous people and ensure that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is respected, and that security forces do not use excessive force against protesters. According to the AI website post, “Bangladeshi authorities must bring to justice those responsible for a vicious mob attack on Indigenous Peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), which left hundreds of homes torched and at least one person dead. Amnesty International is also deeply concerned about reports that soldiers used excessive force against peaceful protesters who have called for justice.”
On Thursday, Nurul Islam Nayan, organising secretary of upazila Jubo League who used to carry passengers on his bike in exchange for money, was found dead alongside a road in Dighinala upazila.
Following the incident, Bangalee settlers went on a rampage while heading towards a graveyard along with Nayan’s body for burial from the upazila headquarters on Friday.
They set fire to over 100 houses in the upazila headquarters and several villages, including Manikjorchhara and Tintila, he said, adding that four people were injured in the arson attacks.
Police on Friday night filed a case against 15 named and around 400 unnamed people.
