Protesters blocked major highways in Khagrachhari for six hours on Thursday, demanding the immediate arrest and swift punishment of the perpetrators involved in the gang-rape of a schoolgirl.
The demonstration, called by local activists under the banner of “Jumma Chaatra Janata” , began at 6:00 AM and continued until noon. The blockade severed road links on the Dhaka-Khagrachhari, Chattogram-Khagrachhari, Khagrachhari-Rangamati, and Khagrachhari-Sajek routes, causing significant travel disruptions for tourists and local residents.
Agitated protesters created barricades by placing tree logs and burning tires on the roads. Long-distance transportation came to a standstill from the morning, though some battery-operated auto-rickshaws were seen operating within the town area.
Abdul Baten Mridha, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, said that while no untoward incidents occurred during the protest, police were deployed at key locations to maintain security.
The protest follows a brutal incident on Tuesday. The minor, a private tuition student, was allegedly abducted, drugged, and gang-raped by a group of miscreants while returning to her home in the Singinala area of Khagrachhari. After she failed to return home for an extended period, family members found her unconscious in a crop field and rescued her.
The victim’s father has since filed a case with the Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, naming three unidentified individuals as accused.
