Blockade reimposed in Khagrachari after temporary suspension

The indefinite blockade in Khagrachari, called by the ‘Jumma Chhatra-Janata’ in protest of the alleged rape of a schoolgirl, was temporarily lifted on Saturday night but reimposed from Sunday morning.

A renewed call for the blockade posted on Facebook triggered widespread public concern.

As a result, all vehicular movement in and around Khagrachari town came to a complete halt from early Sunday. No long-distance buses departed the city. However, over 2,000 tourists stranded in Sajek were safely escorted to Dhaka under army protection late Saturday night.

During Saturday's blockade, at least 27 people were injured in clashes between opposing groups. Several shops were vandalised, and multiple victims with serious injuries were transferred to hospitals in Chattogram for treatment.

To maintain law and order, the district administration enforced Section 144 and deployed additional police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel. The army imposed restrictions on civilian movement, allowing only emergency services to operate.

The unrest was sparked by an incident on Tuesday night in Singinala, Khagrachari Sadar, where a schoolgirl was allegedly raped. Since then, the local indigenous community has staged protests and called for continuous blockades.

In response to the escalating tension, the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) has urged all parties to exercise restraint and maintain peace.