Khagrachhari blockades relaxed

Protesters would relax the blockade movement in Khagrachhari from 12pm Sunday, announced the organising group “Jumm-Chhatra Janata” in a facebook post in the morning.

The relaxation period is aimed at facilitating the treatment of the injured and the funeral rites of the deceased, the post by the ethnic minority group read.

The authorities have imposed Section 144 across the district, and law enforcers are strictly monitoring movement to prevent a repetition of violence on the third day of the blockade.

Very few vehicles or pedestrians were seen on the third day.

Amid easing tensions, the district’s public transport owners have decided to resume passenger bus services towards Dhaka and Chattogram. Aslam Kalu, president of the district public transport owners’ association, confirmed the decision.

The blockades have been enforced in protest against the rape of a Marma schoolgirl last week. A case has already filed against three suspects and one, Shoyon Shil, has been put on remand.

Despite the legal progress, a group of ethnic minority political activists demanded the arrest of all three accused and launched strong demonstrations. The protests turned violent over the past two days.