Uneasy calm in Rangamati as security forces patrol amid blockade

Security has been heightened in Rangamati following clashes between hill people and Bengali settlers. Since Friday night, army, BGB, and police personnel have been conducting joint patrols. 

As of Saturday morning, the situation in the district remains one of uneasy calm. While there are no vehicles on the main roads, private cars are operating on internal roads. 

However, a 72-hour road and waterway blockade, named 'CHT Blockade,' began at 6:00 am in the three hill districts of Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban. At the onset of this blockade, no long-distance vehicles are operating in these districts, causing significant hardship for the local population. There is no public transport on the roads; however, goods vehicles are still moving. The protesters were not seen anywhere on the roads. Private vehicles, including motorcycles, are operating on internal roads. Additionally, army, BGB, and police personnel are heavily present on the streets. 

Meanwhile, three advisers to the interim government are on the way to Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts to discuss the ongoing situation. They are home advisor Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (CHT) adviser Supradip Chakma and Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives adviser AF Hassan Ariff. They will observe the emerging situation and discuss with the locals.

Previously, after a violent incident in Khagrachari that resulted in three deaths, violence spread to Rangamati, leading to another fatality. In response, the district administration has imposed Section 144 to help control the situation.