Chittagong Hill Tracts sectarian violence sews fear among ethnic minorities
The violence was sparked by the lynching of a Bengali man, triggering retaliatory attacks and protests calling for justice
Ethnic minorities in Bangladesh’s southern hilly region are living in fear after clashes in which four people were killed and dozens wounded, police and witnesses said on Saturday.
Sectarian violence, sparked by the lynching of a Bengali man on Wednesday, has displaced scores of ethnic families after homes and businesses were set on fire in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) bordering Myanmar and northeast India, they said.
A 72-hour road and waterways blockade, called by student-led ethnic groups, is under way in three hilly districts of Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban in the CHT, home to several indigenous tribal groups.
The protesters are calling for punishment of those responsible for the unrest, which escalated on Thursday, leading to the deaths of at least four men from ethnic minorities.
Many families in Khagrachhari and Rangamati have fled, leaving behind burning houses and businesses.
Despite heavy presences from the army, police, and patrols by Bangladesh’s border guard, residents remain on edge.
“A tense situation is prevailing … Police and security forces are jointly patrolling, hopefully, peace will restored soon,” said Ahsan Habib, deputy inspector general at Chittagong Range Police.
