A half-day blockade is being observed on three major roads in Khagrachhari on Wednesday called by three student bodies backed by the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF).
The blockade, which began at 6:00am and will continue until noon, is affecting movement on the Khagrachhari–Dhaka, Khagrachhari–Chattogram, and Khagrachhari–Sajek routes.
According to a statement sent to the media, the program was announced in protest against the gun attack on villagers in Tabalapara near the Manikchari–Guimara border on Tuesday and to press for the arrest of six armed men involved in the assault.
The Hill Students Council, the Hill Women’s Federation, and the Women’s Self-Defense Committee three UPDF-supported platforms are enforcing the blockade. The statement was signed by Mithun Chakma, president of the Khagrachhari Hill Students Council, and Anti Chakma, convener of the district Hill Women’s Federation.
UPDF organizer Angya Marma also confirmed the announcement, saying that ambulances, vehicles carrying emergency medicine, power supply transports, as well as journalists and newspaper delivery vans, would remain out of the blockade’s purview.
