CU students block Chattogram-Rangamati road demanding release of 5 abductees

“If they are not rescued soon, we will look to a stricter plan of action,” says a protesting student

Students have blocked the Chattogram-Rangamati road demanding the release of five pupils of Chittagong University (CU) who were abducted in Khagrachhari.

On Tuesday, CU students barricaded the road in front of Gate No. 1 of the university, clogging up traffic at the location for over half an hour.

Earlier, a human chain demonstration was staged on the campus.

CU student Abdur Rahman told bdnews24.com that even after six days, no trace of the abducted students had been found. “If they are not rescued soon, we will look to a stricter plan of action.”

On Monday, the students held protests in front of the university's Shaheed Minar.

On Apr 16, five CU students were abducted from Giriful in the district Sadar on their way to Chattogram the Biju Festiva celebrations in Khagrachhari .

Among the missing are Rishan Chakma, a student of the Department of International Relations at CU and a member of the university's Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) unit and four of his friends: Maitrimoy Chakma from the university’s Department of Fine Arts, Dibby Chakma from the Department of Dramatics, Longi Mro from the Department of Zoology and Aldrin Tripura, another student of fine arts.

All the students are from the 2023-24 academic batch.

Nipon Tripura, president of the JSS-backed Pahari Chhatra Parishad, has alleged the UPDF is responsible for the abduction.

However, UPDF district organiser Angya Marma has denied the allegations.

Joint forces launched rescue operations in different areas, including Madhupur, Pankhaiya Para, Chabai Sarak and Noapara in the district since early Friday morning, said Md Arefin Jewel, superintendent of Khagrachhari police.

On Monday, members of the rescue team claimed they had uncovered a “hideout of the United People’s Democratic Front” (UPDF).

According to a media statement, the joint forces leading the rescue operation came across the hideout during a drive at Upazila’s Bhaibonchhara Union’s Purnachandra Karbaripara around 5am.

A locked house caught the attention of the army personnel in the rescue team as they broke into it with the help of the locals to conduct a search, the statement said.

During the raid, the security team found a large amount of training equipment, but no suspects were found.