In Bangladesh, ethnic clashes between indigenous Chakma and Bengali residents raised tensions in Chittagong hill tracts districts. At least four ethnic minority men were killed and scores were injured in the hill districts of Khagrachhari and Rangamati.

Hundreds of ethnic families left their houses and businesses for the safer places to save their life. At least 50 shops and dozens of houses were burnt in Khagrachhari.

According to media reports, the situation is very tense as the attacks saw Buddhist temples being targeted while loudspeakers in mosques were used to incite Bengali mobs.

Amidst escalating ethnic tension, the authority imposed section 144 on Friday afternoon in Khagrachhari and Rangamati towns barring public gathering.

Meanwhile agitating people called for a 72-hour Chittagong Hill tracts blockade from Saturday morning in protest against the recent attacks, arson, and violence in Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts. The violence also triggered protests in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh on Friday.

In a media statement on Friday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) requested community leaders to assist the law enforcement agencies in de-escalating the ongoing tension. 

The ongoing tension could lead to riots in the three hill districts, including Bandarban, the ISPR statement said

By – Navalsang Parmar (Dhaka)