Khagracchari road blockade withdrawn

The Jumma Chhatra-Janata has withdrawn their indefinite road blockade in Khagracchari enforced in protest against the alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the group's media cell on Saturday morning, October 4.

According to the statement, the blockade has been withdrawn "partly in consideration of the necessity of performing religious rites for the martyrs, providing humanitarian assistance to the injured and affected, and assurance from the administration."

The group said they held a meeting with the district administration, police, and intelligence officials on October 1 to address the recent violence.

In the meeting, they presented an eight-point demand, including the withdrawal of Section 144 and exemplary punishment for those responsible for the killings. After discussion, the administration assured them of meeting their demands and providing Tk 50,000 for each of the families of the martyrs, the statement said.

On the night of September 23, three youths allegedly raped an indigenous eighth-grade student in Sadar upazila while she was returning home from private tuition.

In protest against the incident, the Jumma Chhatra-Janata called an indefinite road blockade in Khagrachhari, and amid this, the local administration on September 27 imposed Section 144 in the district municipality, Sadar upazila, and Guimara.

During the blockade and Section 144, three hill community members were killed and many, including 13 members of the army and three police officers, injured in attacks carried out by ‘miscreants’ in Guimara, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan/MSU