‘Samadhikar Andolon chose conflict over talks’

The International CHT Commission has said the Samadhikar Andolon, a platform of six Bangalee organisations, attacked them in Rangamati as it does not want to sit for talks.

Commission co-chair Sultana Kamal told a media briefing in Chittagong on Saturday they were supposed to have a meeting with the the Samadhikar Andolon, but it did not do so and gathered to attack them.

“Later, our convoy was attacked when we are returning (from Rangamati),” she said.

An eight-strong representative team led by Kamal went on a visit to Rangamati on Friday night.

Apparently irked by the visit, members of six Bangalee organisations allegedly put up barricades on the district town's main road using burning tyres and logs on Saturday morning.

They allegedly attacked the Commission's convoy near the Omdamia Hill locality in the afternoon when it was going to Chittagong under police protection.

Kamal said they were scheduled for a discussion with the Samadhikar Andolon on Friday at Rangamati.

“But they did not come to the meeting on Friday. We came to know, while we were in Khagrhachharhi, that they had called a blockade in Rangamati.

“Despite several attempts to contact them we failed to establish any communication,” said the former caretaker government adviser.

The commission’s visit kicked off on Friday from Khagrhachharhi and it was supposed to go Bandarban via Rangamati.

“We waited for them even on Saturday morning. We tried to contact them,” said Kamal.

The representative team was staying at the Parjatan Motel in Rangamati.

According to the commission co-chair, they had tried to leave the motel on Saturday morning, but failed due to the blockade.

She alleged the members of the Bangalee organisations were deliberately allowed to gather in front of the motel they were staying at.

“We had police protection. Even then they gathered in numbers and threatened our car’s driver.

“It seems that they were allowed to get in here,” said Kamal adding that even journalists who were there could not speak to them “out of fear”.

Later, the OC of Rangmati Police Station arranged security for them, she told the briefing.

“We left under police escort. As soon as we reached near the DGFI (military’s intelligence) office at Rangamati, we are attacked from behind.

“Huge stones were thrown at us. The windshields and glasses were shattered. The police OC, who was sitting in the front seat, sustained injuries in his chest and head,” said Kamal, describing the incident.

Commission members Elora Dewan and Ifetkharuzzaman along with the driver of the car were also injured in the attack.

“I wonder how could they attack when the local administration was with us.”

She added one Nurjahan, who she claimed was a leader of the Samadhikar Andolon, led the protest in front of the motel in Rangamati.