Rangamati hills people fear fresh attacks amid administrative apathy

The people of Rangamati's Naniyachar are living in fear a week after their homes were set on fire.

Salauddin Wahed Pritom, after returning from Naniyachorbdnews24.com
Published : 27 Dec 2014, 12:48 PM
Updated : 27 Dec 2014, 12:48 PM

On Dec 16, a some 200 slum-dwelling Bengali settlers set ablaze the homes of the tribal hills people living in Chhuridasparha, Nabin Karbari Parha and Bogachharhi of Naniyachar.

The arsonists destroyed and looted 50 homes, seven shops and a Buddhist temple.

The victims are currently taking shelter in nearby villages.

The affected homes are yet to be restored and the government administration has yet to take any initiative to restore harmony between the tribal and Bengali communities a week after the attack.

Rangamati MP Ushatan Talukdar has blamed the lack of coordination within the administration for this attack and for not taking any measures to mitigate circumstances after the attack.

Deputy Commissioner Shamsul Arefin, on the other hand, has said the administration will do whatever it took to restore peace within the community.

"Seven-eight Bengalis entered the temple and started vandalising it. They slapped me and threw me to the floor when I tried to stop them," said Abasa, a monk priest who was there when the temple was being attacked.

They stole seven brass-metal Buddha statues and took all the money from the donation boxes in the temple.

“We are scared that we will be attacked again," said Diptimoy Chakma standing in front of his burnt-down home.

“We have not been assured of our security by the administration. Even though we have lost our homes and crops, the most important thing for us is to be assured that we will not be attacked again," said Toshnopriyo Chakma.

A staff of the local monthly newspaper ‘Mawroom’ Dipayan Khisha said disputes between the two communities were common in the neighbourhood. However, an attack of this scale has been unheard of in recent times.

“I joined as deputy commissioner at 2pm on the 25th. Whether a peace assembly will be formed is yet to be decided. One will be formed if it is so required," said Arefin.

“There is a serious lack of coordination within the Rangamati administration. I myself do not even understand who is in charge here, the administration, the police or the army,” said Rangamati MP Ushatan Talukdar.

“No one from the administration has approached me yet to discuss the measures being taken to restore faith within the community.”

Others will take advanatge of such murky conditions unless the administration was active in situations like this, warned Talukdar.