50 houses, shops belonging to indigenous community torched in Rangamati

Over 50 houses and shops of indigenous people have been set ablaze in Rangamati.

Rangamati Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 Dec 2014, 01:59 PM
Updated : 16 Dec 2014, 02:14 PM

A row over a pineapple field is believed to have triggered Tuesday's incident at Naniarchar Upazila.

Communal tensions have been running high in the area since then.

Deputy Commissioner Mostofa Kamal said unidentified people cut away pineapples from a field on Monday night, triggering the row.

The district administration provided Tk 100,000 as assistance to the affected families, he said.

Union Parishad Chairman Promod Bikash Khisha said a rumour that indigenous people had harvested pineapple planted by a Bangali led to the incident.

A group of Bangali settlers first set fire to seven shops owned by Chakmas at 14 Mile area.

Later, they ran amok at Suridas Parha, Nabin Talukder Parha and Bogachharhi Parha, torching and looting houses.

Altogether, 57 houses and shops in three villages in Suridas Parha under Burhighat Union had been damaged.

A pro-hill tracts peace treaty group has blamed Bangali settlers for the incident.

A 12-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident.