Blockade across Hill Tracts

A half-day blockade demanding punishment for the killers of Tumaching Marma has started in the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts ( CHT) early on Sunday.

The organisers , which includes three local women groups - Women's Resource Network,Adibashi Nari Network and Durbar Network - are also demanding an end to violence against women.

The blockade covers all road and water transport in the CHT's three districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagracherri.

14-year-old Tumaching Marma, a tribal girl, was raped and murdered in Rangamati’s Kaukhali upazila on Dec 21 last year. Police are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the crime.

bdnews24.com Khagrachari correspondent said long-distance and inter-city bus services have been grounded since morning, vausing problems for office-goers and school children. He said water transport was also not working.

He said activists were demonstrating and had set fire to tyres at some places on the Dhaka-Khagrachari-Chittagong main road.

"Even we detest the rapists ," said Khagrachari Police Super Sheikh Mizanur Rahman to bdnews24.com.

But he said police was vigilant to ensure the blockade did not affect the general public.

bdnews24.com Rangamati correspondent said that no long-route and inter-city buses have moved and that motor launches did not depart from the Sadr area since morning.

He said the blockade was being observed peacefully.