Indefinite road, waterway blockade in Bandarban

The district unit of Awami League (AL) and its associate organisations yesterday enforced roads and waterways blockade in the district for an indefinite period demanding steps to rescue the party leader, who was abducted by an armed gang from Sadar upazila on Monday night.

No vehicular movement was seen anywhere in the district, nor was any violence reported till filing of this report at 3:00pm. No long-route bus left the district town.

Bandarban Engine Boat Owners' Association sources said all types of waterway transportation were suspended in the district.

An unidentified gang abducted Mongpu Marma, joint convenor of Bandarban Sadar upazilla unit of AL, from Jamchhari area at around 10:45pm.

Protesting the incident, the district unit of the ruling party on Tuesday held a rally in front of Bandarban Press Club. At the rally, the district AL leaders blamed an armed group of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) for the kidnapping.

Contacted, Kwe Shwe Hla, president of the district unit of AL, said PCJSS is involved in killing, abduction and extortion in the hill areas although a peace accord was signed in 1997.

He urged the government to conduct a drive to recover illegal arms and arrest the armed cadres of PCJSS. A case was filed with Sadar police station yesterday, accusing some leaders and activists of PCJSS, including KS Mong Marma, central member of the samity, of kidnapping AL leader Mongpu Marma, police said.

Additional forces have been deployed in the Jamchhari area to avoid any untoward situation, said Mizanur Rahman, superintendent of police in Bandarban.