United News of Bangladesh

Five Chittagong University students and a battery-run auto-rickshaw driver, abducted in Khagrachhari on Wednesday, remain missing as a joint force led by the Bangladesh Army continues rescue operations. Khagrachhari Superintendent of Police Mohammad Arefin Jewel said a regional armed group operating in the hills might be involved in the abduction. "We are using mobile tracking technology to locate them and working on all possible leads to rescue the abducted individuals," he said. The six victims, including Rishan Chakma, a student of International Relations at Chittagong University and a leader of the CU unit of the Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP), were abducted at gunpoint from the Giriful area of Khagrachhari Sadar early Wednesday morning, according to Nipun Tripura, president of the PCP, a student wing of the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) backed by Santu Larma. He said the students had travelled to Baghaichhari in Rangamati to attend the traditional Baisabi festival and were returning to Chittagong University via Khagrachhari. As they failed to secure bus tickets on Tuesday, they stayed overnight at the home of a relative in the Kukichhara area of Khagrachhari Sadar upazila. PCP accuses UPDF of abducting 5 CU students in Khagrachhari "On Wednesday morning, they were on their way back to Chittagong in a battery-run auto-rickshaw when they were forcibly picked up from the vehicle in the Giriful area. The driver was also abducted," he said. He alleged that members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) [Prasit group] were responsible for the abduction. However, Angya Marma, Khagrachhari district organiser of the UPDF (Prasit group), denied the allegation. “We have no involvement in the abduction. This kind of vindictive politics is not our way. We always advocate for an end to fratricidal conflicts. Some quarters are trying to implicate us through conspiracies,” he said.

Gunmen abducted five students from Chittagong University (CU) and a local auto-rickshaw driver on Wednesday morning in the Giriful area of Khagrachhari. After the abduction, the Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) claimed that members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) carried out the abduction. The students were returning from the Chittagong Hill Tracts after attending the traditional Biju Festival when the incident took place. Ribek Chakma, Information and Publication Secretary of the CU unit of PCP, issued a press statement accusing the UPDF of involvement. The PCP demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the students and the driver in sound health. Man to die for violating daughter in Chuadanga It also urged the Chittagong University administration, the Khagrachhari district administration, and other authorities to take prompt action in this regard. Angya Marma, Khagrachhari district coordinator of the UPDF (Prosit group), denied the allegation. “We have always opposed fratricidal conflict and internal violence. We had no involvement in this incident. Linking the UPDF to it is part of a conspiracy,” he said. Abdul Baten Mridha, officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, said they had heard about the incident from several sources but had not yet received a formal complaint. The abducted students were said to be Aldrin Tripura, a first-year student at the Institute of Fine Arts; Maitrimoy Chakma, a first-year student at the Institute of Fine Arts; Dibbyo Chakma, a first-year student in the Department of Drama; Rishon Chakma, a first-year student in the Department of International Relations; and Langgi Mro, a first-year student in the Department of Zoology. The students had gone to Baghaichhari in Rangamati to celebrate the Biju Festival with friends. As they failed to get bus tickets back to Chattogram, they stayed overnight at a relative’s house in the Kukichhara area, near Khagrachhari town. On Wednesday morning, they travelled by an auto-rickshaw towards Khagrachhari Sadar. Armed men allegedly intercepted the vehicle in the Giriful area and abducted all five students along with the driver.

A member of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) was shot dead in an alleged attack by the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) in Manikchhari upazila of Rangamati early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Nirmol Chakma. Murder case accused shot dead in Khulna Angya Marma, a spokesperson for the UPDF, claimed that armed members of the Jana Sanghati Samiti launched the attack, resulting in Nirmol Chakma’s death in the Kharmapara Teimidung area of Manikchhari. Md Sahed Uddin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said he received reports of the UPDF member’s death in the gunfight but could not provide further details.

A suspected member of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) was killed reportedly in a gunfight between the members of UPDF and joint forces in Kichingchara of Langadu upazila of Rangamati district early Thursday. The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately. Tipped off, a team of joint forces conducted a drive in the area around 5:30 am, said Ferdous Wahid, Officer-in-Charge of Langadu Police Station. 3 UPDF men killed: Daylong road blockade underway in Khagrachhari Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on them, forcing the joint forces members to fire back, leaving one dead on the spot. One riffle, 12 mobile phones, three fake uniforms of Bangladesh Army, two NID cards, five bags, 10 blankets and other important documents were also seized from his possession. The body was kept at the Rangamati General Hospital morgue.  

A joint forces team including Bangladesh Army, police and members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Monday rescued four people including the drivers of two covered vans, who were abducted by the members of United People's Democratic Front's (UPDF) from the hilly areas of Khagrachhari district on Sunday night. The victims were identified as Anwar Hossain, Monir Mia—drivers of the two covered vans and their helpers—Hannan Mia and Zayed Khan. Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Ramgarh Police Station, said the UPDF men abducted the four people from ‘Jointfarm’ owned by one Belayet along with two covered vans at gunpoint from Ramgarh upazila around 9 pm. 14 fishermen rescued four days after being stranded on sea Later, a joint team of law enforcers conducted the drive in the area and rescued them. However, no one was arrested in this connection. DU student rescued 7 hours after abduction in Rangamati Earlier, on September 6, a student of Dhaka University, who was abducted by the criminals in the hilly area of Rangamati, was rescued by the Army personnel hours after the abduction.  

A member of The United People's Democratic Front's (UPDF) Prasit Khisa Group, was shot dead by rivals at Karbari Tila in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari on Tuesday. The deceased was Tridib Chakma alias Shimu (40). The incident happened around 3:00 pm today, said Dighinala Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Ali. In a press release issued on behalf of UPDF Prasit Khisa Group, Angya Chakma claimed that the shooting was carried out by armed men of the UPDF Democratic Front, a breakaway faction. Amar Chakma, central organising secretary of UPDF Democratic Front denied the allegation and said none of their members was involved in the killing.

Members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and the JSS (Santu Larma) group are locked in an armed battle in Rangamati's Baghaichhari upazila. Baghaichhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahadat Hossain confirmed the development. The JSS led by Santu Larma is the group with which the government signed the CHT Peace Accord of 1997. The UPDF came into being a year later with an official position expressing 'skepticism' of the accord, and advocating full autonomy. According to the locals, the gunfight started on Sunday evening and continued at high intensity for about 45 minutes, in which both sides exchanged approximately 350 to 400 rounds of bullets. Intermittent gunshots are still being heard till the filing of this report. The sound of the gunshots created panic among the people of the area. However, no casualties were reported. Three firing incidents happened at the same place in the last month. Meanwhile, the UPDF coordinator of the Sajek region, Argent Chakma, said some 30 to 35 armed cadres of JSS started firing on UPDF activists suddenly, but then fled when UPDF responded. Trideep Chakma, a leader of the JSS Santu Larma party, could not be reached for comments on the incident despite several attempts. Read more: UPDF man gunned down in Rangamati  

An activist of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) was shot dead allegedly by rivals at Rangipara in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati district on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Subahu Chakma alias Giri, 55, son of Biraj Mohon Chakma of the upazila and assistant director of UPDF. Quoting local people, Sujon Haldar, officer-in-charge of Naniarchar Police Station, said some members of UPDF opened fire on Giri around 9 am, leaving him dead on the spot. A team of police has been sent to the spot to investigate the incident, he said. Also read: Youth killed in gunfight between 2 UPDF factions in Khagrachhari The motive behind the killing could not be known immediately.  

A leader of a Chittagong Hill Tracts-based political group was shot dead allegedly by his rivals in Guimara upazila of Khagrachhari on Friday. The deceased was identified as Angthoi Marma alias Agun, 52, of the Guimara unit of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF). The crime occurred around 10am near the Dewan Para area of the upazila, said Md Rashid Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Guimara police station. Also read: Youth killed in gunfight between 2 UPDF factions in Khagrachhari According to locals, Marma was gunned down by a group of armed men while he was on his way to carry out the group's work. The body has been sent for an autopsy and the matter is under investigation, said OC Rashid. Also read: UPDF man shot dead in JSS-UPDF ‘gunfight’ in Rangamati

Army personnel conducted a drive in a den of United People Democratic Front (UPDF) and demolished its four barracks, two duty posts and a training centre at Jarulchhari in Khagrachhari early Saturday. Tipped off, some army members of Dighinala zone conducted the drive at 5am. They destroyed four barracks, two duty posts and a training centre, said Md Zahid Hasan, staff officer of Khagrachhari region of Bangladesh Army. READ: UPDF man held in Rangamati in Capt Gazi murder case The UPDF members established a temporary base for training and were harassing locals extorting money and committing other crimes, he said. Bullets were exchanged between the UPDF men and army men during the drive, he claimed. Army personnel recovered their training materials and documents from the camp, said the army officer. READ: 2 killed in JSS-UPDF gunfight in Rangamati