The hill district of Khagrachhari remained tense on Sunday following protests and clashes over the alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl.
Authorities imposed Section 144 — banning gatherings of more than four people — in the district town from 2 pm on Saturday for an indefinite period.
Army personnel, police and APBn forces were deployed at key points of Khagrachhari municipality on Sunday morning. Witnesses reported all shops and businesses in the town remained closed, although no fresh violence had been reported since morning. On Saturday night, tourists stranded in Sajek were escorted to safety under army protection.
Law enforcement officials said three young men from the hill community were arrested late Saturday night at a Buddhist temple in the town while allegedly preparing acts of sabotage. Security forces have been questioning people moving through checkpoints since Sunday morning, and seven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in the district town.
“We are working to prevent any further incidents of violence,” said Khagrachhari Superintendent of Police Md Arefin Jewel.
Police, with army assistance, earlier arrested a 19-year-old man named Shoyon Shil on Wednesday in connection with the gang rape case. Protesting the assault, Jumma student and civic groups observed a half-day road blockade across the district on Thursday.
The unrest stems from an incident last Tuesday night when a schoolgirl was reportedly gang-raped while returning home from private tutoring. Demanding justice, Jumma student and civic groups held demonstrations and a grand rally on Friday at Chengi Square, from which the road blockade was announced.
