 "Rebel groups fought a decades-long battle for a tribal homeland in the Chittagong Hill Tracts before signing a 1997 peace deal. File Photo- Reuters")
The Bangladeshi troops opened fire after being shot at by a tribal group during ethnic violence in a remote border region, with authorities and witnesses saying at least four people were killed.
According to residents and Bangladeshi media, the latest violence was set off by the lynching of a Bengali-speaking man purportedly caught stealing a motorbike. In retaliation, shops and establishments owned by the tribal community were attacked and set on fire.
Section 144 has been imposed in the Khagrachhari municipal town and the district’s Sadar area from 2 pm on Friday to bring a halt to the violence, BD news quoted Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Md Shahiduzzaman as saying.
“The district administration has taken the step to stop all kinds of violence,” he said.
Bangladesh’s military said members of the United People’s Democratic Front rebel group “opened fire on an army patrol” as the tribal community led by the UPDF tried to stop soldiers from ferrying a dying man to the hospital. “In retaliation, they (soldiers) fired back, leading to the deaths,” a military statement said.
“Three people died and many were injured in the exchange of fire” between troops and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) rebel group, the statement said, without specifying who was killed.
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Bangladesh interim leader Muhammad Yunus said his government was “deeply saddened and distressed by the ongoing attacks, and loss of lives, death of an individual after a mob attack.” “All the incidents related to violence will be investigated and the responsible individuals will be brought to justice,” he added in a statement.
Rebel groups fought a decades-long battle for a tribal homeland in the Chittagong Hill Tracts before signing a 1997 peace deal.
Despite the treaty and the withdrawal of most troops from the region, unrest has continued as tribal groups demand key clauses of the deal be implemented, including dismantling settlers’ villages and army camps.
UPDF is an armed group that rejected the deal and continues its battle for regional autonomy and the full withdrawal of military bases.
Last month, hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus have tried unsuccessfully to flee to India this week after many homes and businesses of the minority community were vandalised following the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hindus make up about 8% of Muslim-majority Bangladesh’s 170 million people and have traditionally largely supported Hasina’s Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, instead of the opposition bloc that includes a hardline Islamist party.
With inputs from AFP.