Rangamati Violence
2 probe bodies formed, docs go on strike
Two committees were formed yesterday to investigate Saturday's clash between indigenous people and Bangalee settlers over a trivial matter in Rangamati town, which left at least 20 people injured.
Meanwhile, government doctors in the district declared abstention from work at the outdoor sections of state-run hospitals, protesting an attack on a doctor from the indigenous community during the clash.
Mostafa Kamal, deputy commissioner of Rangamati, will lead a three-member investigation panel formed as per the directives of State Minister for CHT (Chittagong Hill Tracts) Affairs Dipankar Talukder. The committee has to submit its report in seven days.
At an emergency meeting, Dipankar asked the district administration to form a committee. The meeting also decided to keep law enforcers deployed there until the situation calms down.
The Rangamati Government College authorities formed a five-member enquiry committee, led by Vice-Principal Mofiz Ahmed. It was asked to submit its report in 15 days.
A huge contingent of police, army and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were seen on the almost empty thoroughfares and in the closed markets of the town. A ban on public gatherings has been in place since Saturday.
Despite the presence of so many law enforcers, indigenous youth Dinesh Tanchangya, 22, was attacked in front of Rangamati Sadar Hospital yesterday.
He had to be hospitalised.
Meanwhile, protesting the attack on the doctor during Saturday's clash, Rangamati district unit of the Bangladesh Medical Association yesterday morning declared an indefinite abstention from work at the outdoor sections of government hospitals
Shushovon Dewan, a medical officer at Rangamati Sadar Upazila Hospital, sustained serious injuries in his head and hands when criminals attacked him twice during the clash.
Doctors will not see patients at the outdoor sections of all government hospitals in Rangamati but they will be available in the hospitals and in the emergency sections.
At least 20 people, including a union parishad chairman and a sub-inspector, were injured in the clash that erupted around 10:00am on Saturday on the Rangamati Government College campus. Later, the college was declared shut.
Local people said the clash had its origin on Wednesday when two students -- an indigenous and a Bangalee settler -- went into an argument over sitting space in a college bus.
The situation had deteriorated as the clash spread outside the college periphery into nearby Banarupa, Kanthaltoli and Rajbari areas of the town.
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