At least four people, including a man who was beaten to death by a mob, have died in violent clashes between indigenous people and Bengali communities, which began in Dighinala Upazila of Khagrachhari district and spread to Rangamati from Thursday night into Friday.
Around 70 people from both sides were also injured by Friday around 6 pm. During the clashes, shops and homes were vandalised and set on fire.
In an effort to control the situation, the district administration imposed Section 144 in the districts of Rangamati and Khagrachhari from 2pm to 9pm.
The four deceased have been identified as Junan Chakma, 20, Dhananjay Chakma, 50, and Rubel, 30, all from Khagrachhari, Samrat Chakma, 32, from Rangamati, and Md Mamun, 30, who was beaten by a mob.
Resident Medical Officer Ripple Bappi Chakma of Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital confirmed the deaths in Khagrachhari, while Officer-in-Charge Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury of Chandraghona Police Station confirmed the fatality in Rangamati, according to media reports.
Clashes triggered by mob killing
According to local authorities and sources, the violent clash was triggered by the death of Md Mamun, 30, who was beaten to death by a mob after allegedly stealing a motorcycle on Wednesday. In protest of the killing, students from Dighinala Degree College and locals organised a march.
As the procession approached Lerma Square, it was blocked by another group, leading to a violent confrontation. During the clash, an arson attack was carried out, with at least 50-60 shops set on fire.
Tensions quickly spread to various parts of the district, including Dighinala and Panchhari, as the unrest escalated in the evening. Roads were blocked, and protesters clashed with law enforcement.
By Thursday, confrontations had broken out between indigenous and Bengali communities in Khagrachhari town, prompting law enforcement agencies to intervene and bring the situation under control.
Gunfire erupted in the town on Thursday night, although it remains unclear who was responsible for the shooting. The incident sparked widespread panic, with internet services restricted and many residents fleeing their homes for safety.
Confirming the incident, Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Md Shahiduzzaman told the media that gunfire was reported overnight. "So far, three bodies have been recovered from the hospital. Around 10 to 12 people have been injured in the violence," he said.
He added that the situation remains tense. Authorities are in communication with political parties and are working to restore normalcy in the area.
Section 144 imposed
In response to the escalating violence, a notice was issued enforcing Section 144 in Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila from Friday. The order, signed by Upazila Executive Officer Sujan Chandra Roy, stated that Section 144 would remain in effect until 9 pm on Friday.
Authorities indicated that the order could be extended if the situation does not return to normal.
Meanwhile, the impact of the clashes between indigenous and Bengali communities in Khagrachhari has also spread to Rangamati district. Since Friday morning, fresh violence erupted between the two sides in Rangamati, resulting in vandalism of shops and homes, as well as incidents of arson.
Rangamati march sparks further violence
On Friday morning, several thousand indigenous people marched from the Gymnasium area in Rangamati, alleging that they had been attacked with bricks and stones. In retaliation, several shops owned by Bengali residents were attacked. Vehicles, including buses, trucks, and taxis, were also targeted.
Both groups positioned themselves on opposite sides of Happy intersection, where one person was killed and at least 50 others were injured in the ensuing clashes.
Duty Doctor Sadia Akhtar of Rangamati General Hospital told the media that around 50 people had been injured, with 6 to 7 in critical condition. She also confirmed one fatality.
Amid sporadic clashes in Rangamati throughout the morning, District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Khan issued a public notice imposing Section 144 under the Code of Criminal Procedure in the municipal area from 1 pm.
He stated that due to the severe deterioration of law and order in Rangamati and the risk to public safety and property, Section 144 would remain in force from 1pm on Friday until further notice. He warned that legal action would be taken against anyone violating the order.
Protests in Dhaka
In a separate development, students and members of ethnic minority communities held protests in Dhaka on Friday, following the clashes in Dighinala, Khagrachhari.
A demonstration was held on Friday at 10 am near the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University, with protesters later blocking the Shahbagh intersection for about half an hour around noon.
The protesters called for constitutional recognition of minority communities, the effective implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Commission, and an end to land grabbing under the guise of tourism development.
They also demanded the strengthening of the Regional Council for the Chittagong Hill Tracts and a fair trial in connection with the recent clashes in Dighinala.
