Khagrachhari clash: Section 144 lifted, probe committee formed amid ongoing tensions

Khagrachhari district administration has formed a four-member probe committee to investigate the recent violence following the lynching of a school teacher on 1 October over an allegation of sexually assaulting a student. 

The committee will be led by Roznil Shahid Chowdhury, the additional district magistrate of Khagrachhari, as confirmed by Mohammad Shahiduzzaman, the deputy commissioner of Khagrachhari, to The Business Standard.

In response to the violence, authorities imposed an indefinite Section 144 on 1 October, restricting public gatherings in the district headquarters and surrounding municipal areas to prevent further clashes. However, it was lifted today (2 October). 

"Section 144 has been lifted from 3pm as the situation has returned to normalcy," Sadar Upazila Nirbai Officer Sujan Chanda Roy told TBS.

Currently, the situation in Khagrachhari remains controlled with law enforcement agencies patrolling the area, our correspondent reports. However, tension is still gripping the area.

Shops have opened and long-route buses have begun operation, he adds.

Senior officials of the administration inspected the Khagrachhari market and other affected areas today. Although some long-distance buses resumed service this morning, local roads remain largely deserted, with only a handful of vehicles on the streets.

Two separate cases have been filed in incidents involving the alleged rape of a 7th-grade student at Khagrachhari Technical School and College and obstructing government work, and assaulting officials. However, no case has yet been filed regarding the killing of the school teacher Abul Hasnat Muhammad Sohel Rana.

Two separate cases have been filed in connection with the alleged rape of a 7th-grade student at Khagrachhari Technical School and College, as well as obstruction of government work and assault on officials.

However, no case has yet been filed regarding the killing of the school teacher, Abul Hasnat Muhammad Sohel Rana, in the mob beating.

"We will request the public not to take the law into their own hands. The family of the deceased will file a case," said Mohammad Arefin Jewel, superintendent of police of Khagrachhari. 

The violence traces back to allegations against Sohel Rana, who had previously been jailed in 2021 following a similar accusation of raping a student. Although he was acquitted in that case, the fresh allegation led to public outrage, resulting in 1 October violence. 

What began as a protest quickly spiralled into violence, with reports emerging that at least 20 businesses in the town's Pankhaiyapara and Mahajanpara neighbourhoods were vandalised and looted. 

Most affected shops, including clothing stores, beauty parlours, and food outlets, are reportedly owned by members of the ethnic minority community, and even a private hospital did not escape the destruction.

4 Deaths in CHT: Citizens, activists demand action 

Meanwhile, forty-four citizens and rights activists of the country today demanded the arrest and trial of those responsible for the four deaths in Chittagong Hill Tracts during a round of violence on 18 September. 

Protests and clashes had resulted in the deaths of three people in Khagrachhari and one in Rangamati. 

Moreover, many homes of indigenous community members were burned and looted at the time.

The statement said, "We know that on 18 September 2024 in the Pankhaiya neighbourhood of Khagrachhari Sadar, a youth named Mohammad Mamun, 30, was beaten to death for allegedly stealing a motorcycle and later died in the hospital. 

"In the case filed by the wife of Mamun in the police station, the names of the three Bangalis responsible for the murder have been clearly mentioned…"

The statement said the next day clashes broke out between Bangalis and members of the indigenous centring on Mamun's death.

"During this clash, 37 houses and shops of hill people were burnt in Dighinala of Khagrachari district," it said, adding the local community had also complained that those tasked with ensuring security instead helped attackers on indigenous community in various ways. 

"Junan Chakma, 20, Dhananjay Chakma, 50, and Rubel Chakma, 20, were killed... Anik Chakma, 17, who was sitting in a tea shop within 200 yards of the DC office was beaten to death [in Rangamati on 20 September]. The killers have been clearly identified in the video footage, but they have not been arrested so far," the statement said. 

The statement made five demands, including an impartial and high-level investigation into the clashes, alongside adequate compensation, a timely roadmap of full implementation of the CHT peace accord and an immediate holding of a roundtable discussion between the home ministry and other stakeholders.

The statement was signed by noted rights activist Sultana Kamal, social activist Khushi Kabir, TIB Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Barrister Sara Hossain, and photographer Shahidul Alam, among others.