Dhaka, Sept 21: Ethnic tensions have surged in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts due to violent clashes between the indigenous Chakma and Bengali communities, resulting in at least four fatalities and numerous injuries in Khagrachhari and Rangamati. Hundreds of families have evacuated their homes, seeking refuge from the violence, which has led to the destruction of over 50 shops and several houses in Khagrachhari.
Reports indicate a heightened state of tension, with Buddhist temples being attacked and loudspeakers in mosques allegedly inciting Bengali mobs. In response to the violence, authorities implemented Section 144 on Friday afternoon, banning public gatherings in Khagrachhari and Rangamati.
Amid the unrest, residents have called for a 72-hour blockade of the Chittagong Hill Tracts beginning Saturday morning in protest of the recent violence and arson. Protests have also spread to Dhaka and other cities across Bangladesh.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement urging community leaders to assist law enforcement in reducing tensions, warning that the ongoing conflict could lead to riots in Bandarban and surrounding districts. The situation remains precarious as efforts to restore calm continue.
