Special Correspondent :
Nagorik Samaj, a platform of concerned citizens, has alleged that law enforcers played a silent role during the Friday’s arson attacks and vandalism on the indigenous locality at Longadu upazila in the hill district of Rangamati.
They arranged a protest meeting in front of National Museum at Shahbagh in the city on Sunday demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits. The Bangalee settlers set on fire over 200 houses and vandalised several other business establishments of the indigenous people on Friday, they claimed.
Raising question about the failure of law enforcement agencies to tackle the situation, the leaders of the Nagorik Samaj demanded proper investigation into the role of the police and other law enforcement agencies during the attacks.
“If anyone wants to enter the region, he will have to cross a number of security barriers. We wonder how those villages could be burned amid such high security. What were the law enforcers doing?” rights activist Khushi Kabir said in the rally posing questions.
“I feel very much ashamed that government is not capable to provide minimum security to its citizens. The authorities did not disclose the names those who were arrested in this connection….The authorities concerned must investigate into the mystery. We want to get answers to these questions,” Khushi Kabir stated.
There is widespread allegation that the police and other law enforcement agencies were informed earlier by the victims to protect them. But the police did not take any step in this regard. The attack was made in presence of law enforcers. General Secretary of Bangladesh Adibashi Forum Sanjeeb Drong said: “It’s a big question how the incident took place amid presence of law enforcers and various other agencies.”
Meanwhile, the panic-stricken people who had fled away fearing more torture have started coming back slowly to the localities. But most of them have taken shelter at Tintila Buddhist Temple as there is no existence of their houses. The local army unit is now providing them food. Zonal Commander Lieutenant Colonel said, “We are serving food at two points. The army will provide food until the people are rehabilitated. General Secretary of Janasanghati Samity, Longadu Unit, Moni Shankar Chakma said, “In Tintala a total of 180 houses, 88 houses at Manikjor Chhara, 42 houses at Baittapara and four other shops were burnt into ashes. The residents of the areas have fled away fearing further attacks.” Against this backdrop, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday said that the perpetrators who carried out the arson attack and vandalism on the houses of the hill people will face trial.
“The police filed case against 300 people while 12 have already been arrested. Police are kept vigil to arrest the other perpetrators. No one will be spared. The government is firm to ensure exemplary punishment to the culprits so that such incident cannot be re occurred in future,” the Minister said while talking to the newsmen at his Secretariat office in the city.
BNP on Sunday termed the attacks on Chakma community as “brutal” and demanded immediate action against the perpetrators. In a statement, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits. “Our party believes in warm coexistence of Bangalees and hilly people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. So, we strongly denounce the brutal arson attacks on the hilly people and damage of their houses. Such ferocious attacks can no way be acceptable,” Fakhrul said.
On the other hand, a delegation of Awami League- led 14-party alliance headed by Health Minister Mohammad Nasim will go to Rangamati on Tuesday to see the condition of the indigenous people.
“The arson attacks and vandalism on hill people’s houses is a matter of grave concern. The culprits who were involved in the heinous incident will be brought to book,” the Health Minister said.
Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Md Manzarul Mannan had said the incident took place following the death of Organising Secretary of Awami Jubo League of Longadu unit, also a motor cycle rider that carries passengers in exchange of fare, who was found dead at Chaar mile area in Khagrachhari district on Thursday.
Several thousand people, mostly Bangalee settlers, gathered there when the news of Nayon’s death spread out in the area. They brought out processions under the banner of Jubo League and Parbattaya Bangalee Chhatra Parishad registering protest against the killing of Nurul Islam Nayon.
At one stage, the mob became violent and set on fire the houses and vandalised several other business establishments, the DC had said.
