Family members of the victims and those affected in the recent sectarian violence in Khagrachari and Rangamati demanded an investigation into the incident under the supervision of the United Nations.
They also demanded a fair trial in the killings of four ethnic minority people and arson attacks by Bengali people in two districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and ensured exemplary punishment for those involved.
They made the demands at a press conference at the National Press Club on Sunday.
Khukumoni Chakma, a survivor and a witness to the violence in Rangamati, in a written statement said that, on September 19 and 20, hilly people saw consecutive sectarian attacks which killed four people and over a hundred were injured.
鈥楾wo of the critically injured are currently undergoing treatment in Chattogram. At least 105 shops were damaged at Dighinala and at least 100 businesses were damaged in Rangamati,鈥� she said.
The attackers also vandalised and looted the Buddhist religious institution Maitri Bihar, she said, adding that the authorities have imposed section 144 only after the violence was over.
鈥楧espite the government鈥檚 formation of a seven-member investigation committee on September 26, none of the attackers involved in the killings and looting have been arrested yet. Fear and panic are still present among the ethnic communities in three hill districts- Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban,鈥� she said.
Mothers of Junan Chakma and Rubel Tripura, who were shot dead allegedly by the security forces in Khagrachari鈥檚 Swanirbhar area on September 19, demanded a thorough investigation into the murders of their children and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Wiping her tears, Junan鈥檚 mother Rupsa Chakma said, 鈥業 used to respect the Bangladesh army members but I have no respect left for them as they killed our sons.鈥�
She alleged that members of the army not only shot her son but kept brutally hitting Junan with the gun.
She shared, 鈥業 am still in fear. After losing Junan, I am afraid to send my younger son to school and anywhere else. I spend my days in fear of when, what would happen, whether the army-settlers will attack again.鈥�
Binok Chakma, son of Dhana Ranjan Chakma killed in Dighinala on September 19, said that his father went to Larma Square to help the people whose businesses were set on fire.
鈥楢t that time the army men picked up my father, hit him with the butt of the gun and cut his limbs and brutally killed him,鈥� he alleged.
The army has failed to treat people irrespective of religion and ethnicity, he said.
They demanded providing adequate compensation to the families of the victims, the injured, and the owners of the affected homes and businesses, ensuring immediate and proper treatment for the injured.
Their demands also included dismissing military and civilian officials involved in the sectarian violence during Sheikh Hasina regime, and prosecute them under military and civilian law, and taking political initiatives to restore peace and stability in the CHT, and withdraw military rule and settlers from the CHT.
On September 19, Bengalis brought out a procession protesting at Mohammad Mamun鈥檚 murder in Khagrachari district town that triggered Bengalis鈥� attacks on ethnic minority houses and businesses at Dighinala.
However, Mamun鈥檚 wife filed a case with Khagrachari police station against three Bengali people- a Bangladesh Nationalist Party activist and two Awami League leaders.
The violence spread from Khagrachari to Rangamati the next day on September 20, which saw another ethnic youth, Anik Kumar Chakma, killed.
At least four cases 鈥� two murder cases in Khagrachari and one murder case and another case related to vandalism in Rangamati 鈥� were filed with the local police stations over the sectarian violence.
