chtnews.com
News No. 100/2013,
Thursday, August 29, 2013
A MOTORBIKE driver and
his passenger have been arrested by army in Sajek under Baghaichari Upazila in
Rangamati district, triggering a mass protest in the area.
According to sources,
the army from Baghaihat zone arrested Shanashri Chakma alias Ripon, 30, a
motorbike driver, and his passenger Nipun Chandra Chgakma at a check post (No.
6) in Baghaihat at 12:30pm today for carrying several copies of the
Jatio Dak, an irregular news bulletin published in Bangla.
They were heading to
Hajacahra village from Gangaram in Sajek when the army arrested them. Later,
they have been handed over to the police.
Originally a resident
of Dhanpada, Rangamati and now staying with his father-in-law in Langolmara,
Ripon Chakma, son of Sabinoy Chakma, makes a living by driving a motorbike,
while Nipun Chandra Chakma hails from Sajekchara Bridge Para. His father’s name
is Nogendra Sen Chakma.
After the arrest,
Binoy Chakma, a member of Sajek Union Council (Ward No. 4), went to Baghaihat
army zone to enquire about the arrestees.
On his return, he told
chtnews: ‘I met the army who said that the paper (Jatio Dak) is illegal because
it has published something against them.’
He also quoted the
army as saying: ‘We’ll look into the matter and find out where and how they
have got the paper.’
Demanding the release
of the two arrested Jummas, the people of Sajek staged a protest march and held
a rally in Ujo bazaar. The rally was addressed by Atu Lal Chakma, Chairman of
Sajek Union Council, Jotsna Rani Chakma, a member of the Council, Gyanendu
Chakma and Jyoti Lal Karbari.
The speakers condemned
the arrests and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
UPDF organizder in
Baghaichari Sama Shanti Chakma, in a statement issued to the media, has
condemned the arrest and demanded their immediate release.
Terming the arrest of
Ripon and Nipun Chandra as a flagrant violation of human and fundamental rights
guaranteed in the constitution of Bangladesh as well as a glaring example of
abuse of power by army personnel deployed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the
UPDF leader said, ‘The arrest is totally unlawful. Although the paper, for the
keeping of which they were arrested, is unregistered, but not banned and not a
single word has been written in it against the state of Bangladesh.’
It is to be noted that
on 23 August Captain Yasir Arafat, Adjutant of Baghaihat zone, called Chitta
Ranjan Chakma, the Karbari or Chief of Noapara, to the camp and ordered him to
stop chanting religious hymns from a Buddhist temple.
“As of today, chanting
of religious hymns from Noapara Buddhist temple through sound systems must be
stopped. We feel annoyed by this chanting of religious hymns. If the hymns were
to be chanted, then you should do it after azan (Muslim prayers).” Yasir was
quoted by Chitta Ranjan Chakma as telling him.
The news of Captain
Yasir’s orders spread like wildfire in Sajek and ultimately made its way into
the internet as well. The Jatio Dak also published it in its current issue.
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