There must be zero tolerance for thuggery in the CHT
Those responsible for Monday’s attack on an
official of the CHT Commission must be apprehended and called to account.
Coordinator of the CHT Commission Hana Shams and
a Jahangirnagar University lecturer were physically assaulted by a group of 10
people while returning from a trip to Bandarban.
The attackers are reportedly members of the same
group, Bangalee Somo Odhikar Andolon (BSOA), which carried out similar assaults
in Rangamati in early July, to prevent members of the commission from visiting
the district. Even though July’s attack blatantly took place outside an army
office, none of the people named in a case filed by the commission have yet
been charged.
Reports by a witness and the OC of the local police
confirm that this week’s attack was also politically motivated. The attackers
were led by a local official of a Bengali settler group which is associated
with BSOA.
We are highly concerned by these disgraceful
incidents, which were clearly calculated to intimidate and undermine the work
of a peaceful community group.
Of most concern is that although some police
protection was provided to CHTC members this week, it was missing when the
attack took place, and this discouraged the victims from filing a report
straight away, as they felt insecure.
Four Detective Branch policemen are reported to
have followed the victims but failed to protect them. The police must make
clear why the victims were followed and whether or not these officers were in
league with the attackers. The facts cry out for an explanation. The police
failure to protect the victims is inexcusable.
Enough is enough. There must be zero tolerance
for this kind of thuggery in the CHT. For too long, Bengali settler groups have
perpetrated violence and intimidation with tacit official support.
No more. Law
enforcement cannot continue to protect and shield these criminals. If the
guilty and the officials colluding in the violence are not brought to book, we
will know what to think.
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