Students from various ethnic communities staged a protest rally in Khagrachhari on Sunday demanding the release of five Chittagong University (CU) students who were abducted from the Giriful area of the district town five days ago.
They also demanded justice for the recent rape of girl of an ethnic community in Rangamati’s Kaukhali upazila.
Under the banner of ‘Khagrachhari Adibasi Chhatra Samaj’, the demonstrators marched from Chengi Square and paraded through Shapla Chattar, Adalat Road, and ended their rally in front of the court premises.
A protest meeting was held there, chaired by Tushon Chakma. Speakers included Sujon Chakma Zhimiti, president of the Pahari Chhatra Parishad; Ukkyanu Marma of the Bangladesh Marma Student Council; Akash Tripura, president of Tripura Students' Forum (Sadar unit); former CU student Rahel Chakma; and student leader Maya Chowdhury, among others.
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The speakers demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted students and swift justice for the rape victim.
They alleged that the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) was involved in creating unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by disrupting peace and engaging in abduction-related activities.
They urged the UPDF to refrain from such heinous acts and return to a peaceful path.