United News of Bangladesh

In the serene hills of Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts, an unusual yet striking sight has become a seasonal norm: dozens of pomelos, locally known as ‘jambura’, drifting gently down rivers and streams. This phenomenon is drawing attention as a brilliant example of ingenious local business practice. Local farmers transport pomelo fruits from remote hilly areas by floating them across rivers, as overland transport is challenging. During the pomelo season, the traditional knowledge and techniques involved in floating these hilly jamburas are clearly visible. Where the fruits would normally hang on trees, countless pomelos are now seen floating in rivers and streams. At first glance, it may appear they have been discarded due to spoilage, but in reality, this is a clever transportation technique devised by indigenous farmers of the Chittagong Hill Tracts to overcome logistical hurdles. Garbage pile turns Companiganj Bazar into a breeding ground for diseases With the harvest season in full swing, moving pomelos from remote hill gardens to markets poses significant difficulties due to rugged terrain and limited road access. To overcome these challenges, local farmers have turned to nature—floating freshly picked fruits downstream. Using the natural current of rivers and streams, they transport the fruits to accessible locations, where small bamboo enclosures are set up to catch and collect them. From there, the fruits are processed and distributed to markets across the country. This floating method significantly reduces transportation costs, which are otherwise high due to poor road conditions in the hilly areas. Moreover, it minimises damage to the fruits during transport. Farmers also say that sorting becomes easier, as any spoiled fruit can be quickly identified once it surfaces. Local farmers, including Asit Baran Chakma and Kalayan Chakma, said this natural transportation method has increased their profit margins, allowing them to send produce to distant markets without incurring extra costs.

Life in Khagrachhari has begun returning to normal since Tuesday night after a four-day disruption, as a road blockade enforced by a group was suspended until October 5. Though long-distance transport services have not fully resumed, a few vehicles left the district on Wednesday morning. Passenger presence increased at bus counters while limited traffic was seen in the town and surrounding areas. Business establishments, including shops reopened after remaining shut for four days. The indefinite blockade was called by an organisation named ‘Jumma Chhatra-Janata’ in protest of the alleged rape of a schoolgirl. On Tuesday night, the group announced on its Facebook page that the blockade would be suspended out of respect for the Durga Puja and in light of assurances from the administration to meet their eight-point demand. Situation in Khagrachhari now normal: Home Adviser But, Section 144, imposed by the district administration, remains in effect. Despite the suspension, tension persists among locals as additional security measures continue in Khagrachhari and Guimara, with army patrols, BGB and police patrolling. A five-member panel was formed to investigate the recent incidents. Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Shaber said he could not confirm social media claims that medical tests found no evidence of rape, noting that the report would be submitted to court through police. During the blockade on September 27 and 28, at least three people were killed and many injured in clashes. Several shops, homes, and offices in Guimara, including Ramsu Bazar, were set on fire. Officer-in-charge of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Abdul Baten Mridha said normalcy is gradually being restored, with vehicles running and no fresh incidents reported.

The indefinite road blockade enforced by Jumma students and local residents entered its fourth day on Tuesday, severely disrupting normal life in the hill district. Although the blockade has been relaxed on the Chattogram-Khagrachhari and Dhaka-Khagrachhari highways, long-distance bus services are yet to resume. Movement on internal roads also remains limited, with only a few auto-rickshaws and easy bikes seen operating. The announcement of the relaxation was made through a Facebook post by the Jumma students and residents on Monday morning. Meanwhile, Section 144 imposed by the local administration remains in effect in Sadar and Guimara upazilas. Khagrachhari BGB Sector Commander Colonel Md Abdul Moktakim on Monday urged all communities to maintain peace and harmony during this sensitive time. Army issues statement on communal violence in Khagrachhari He also assured that the BGB would continue to stand by the local population until the situation stabilises. To prevent further unrest, nine BGB platoons have been deployed, with two additional platoons kept on standby. Earlier on Sunday, three people were shot dead and several others injured in an armed attack by miscreants in Guimara upazila. The Jumma students, under the banner of Jumma Chatra-Janata (Jumma student-masses), called the blockade protesting the rape of a 12-year-old Marma schoolgirl on September 23. Since Sunday morning, the movement of all modes of transport has been suspended, leaving daily life in disarray. The demonstrators have also demanded the arrest of all perpetrators involved in rapes against women in the hills. Streets in Khagrachhari town and its outskirts remain deserted, with residents largely confined to their homes except for urgent needs. Army personnel, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police forces continue to patrol different areas. The term Jumma refers collectively to the indigenous peoples of the three districts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Police on Monday disclosed the identities of those killed in Sunday’s attack. They were Akhrau Marma, 22, Teiching Marma, 20, Athuiprue Marma, 21, all residents of Guimara.

Tension remains high in Khagrachhari district following Sunday’s violence and protests over the alleged rape of a schoolgirl, which left three people dead and several others injured in Guimara upazila. Meanwhile, the indefinite road blockade organised under the banner of Jumma students and local residents entered its third day on Monday, bringing normal life to a near standstill. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Khagrachhari District Hospital late on Sunday evening, but their identities have yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile the blockade on roads connecting Dhaka and Chhatogram has been relaxed temporarily to facilitate services from 12pm on Monday. Army issues statement on communal violence in Khagrachhari Jumma students and local residents announced the relaxation via a Facebook post on Monday morning. According to the post, the roads will be open from 12pm until further notice to allow critically injured Jumma protesters, who were hurt in clashes with law enforcers in Guimara upazila, to receive treatment and to facilitate the proper burial of deceased Jumma victims. The post also reads that a medical team from Dhaka is scheduled to arrive and authorities at all levels were urged to ensure unobstructed access. Unrest erupted in the hill district after the reported rape of a schoolgirl on the night of September 23. Businesses belonging to both hill and Bengali communities have been attacked and vandalised in various parts of Khagrachhari over the past few days. At least three people were killed and several others injured in an armed attack by miscreants in Guimara upazila on Sunday. In an official statement issued on Sunday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs expressed deep sorrow over the killings and extended sympathy to those injured, including an army major, 13 army personnel, the officer-in-charge of Guimara Police Station, three other policemen and several others. Section 144 has been imposed in Khagrachhari town, Sadar upazila and Guimara upazila. The movement of all modes of transport has been suspended since Sunday morning, disrupting daily life. Protesters are reportedly setting up hidden barricades at various points, although they have not appeared openly. Streets in the town and its outskirts remain deserted, with residents largely confined to their homes except for urgent needs. Trucks and pickups carrying raw materials to markets in Longdu, Bagaichhari and other areas remained stranded, causing widespread disruption to trade and everyday activities. Army personnel, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police forces remain deployed across different areas. Although one suspect has been arrested in connection with the rape of the schoolgirl, two others are still at large.

A dawn-to-dusk road blockade is  Khagrachhari district in protest against the alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl and the oppression of hill women. Vehicular movement came to a halt due to the blockade enforced by protesters under the banner of Jumma Chhatra-Janata. Witnesses said supporters of the blockade have been picketing throughout the district. Protesters have set tires on fire and placed tree branches on the roads to obstruct traffic in different areas in the district town  including Chingiskar, Jiromail, Balpai, and Adam, as well as on the Khagrachhari-Chattogram, Panchhari, Dighinala, and Mahalchhari roads. The suspension in vehicular movement caused suffering to  people, particularly tourists visiting the area. Army raid in Khagrachari leaves MLP commander dead However, no untoward incidents have been reported so far. Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Baten Mridha said they are working to remove the barricades and restore normalcy. Additional police have been deployed at key locations and security measures across the district have been strengthened. A Marma schoolgirl on the evening of September 23 was  gang raped while returning from private tuition. The victim’s father filed a case with Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station naming three unknown people as suspects. OC Abdul Baten said a suspect, Shoyon Shil, was arrested with the assistance of the army and a court put him on remand.

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. Human chain protests ‘baton charge by army’ on medical students in Sunamganj 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.

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.

Unfit open-top jeeps, locally known as "Chander Gari," continue to ply the hilly roads of Khagrachhari, defying government regulations and posing significant risks to passengers. Reckless driving by unskilled drivers often leads to accidents, particularly on the route to the popular Sajek Valley tourist destination. Most of these jeeps operate without licenses, fitness certificates, or road permits. Over the past one and a half months, accidents involving these vehicles have claimed at least five lives and injured more than 50 people. Despite this, an estimated 3,000 such jeeps are in operation across Khagrachhari’s tourist spots and inter-district roads. Local transport syndicates control the operation of these unfit vehicles, dictating fares for tourists through the Jeep Owners’ Association. Many travellers have expressed frustration over the unchecked irregularities, citing a lack of regulatory oversight.

Two people were killed and two others sustained serious injuries in separate road accidents in Lakshmipur and Khagrachhari on Friday morning. In Lakshmipur, a 25-year-old woman was killed and two others were injured when an auto-rickshaw lost control and collided with a stationary truck in the Zamindar Hat area on the Lakshmipur-Ramgati road. Nasima Akhter, wife of Abdul Barek from the Charsita area in Ramgati upazila, died on the spot, said Ramgati Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Kabir Hossain. Her elder sister, Farzana Akhter, and the auto-rickshaw driver were injured in the crash, which occurred around 10am, he added. Injured Farzana was taken to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for further treatment. The body of Nasima Akhter has been kept at the hospital morgue, said Dr. Kamalashish of Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital. In another accident in Khagrachhari, a 24-year-old man died when a SUV overturned in the Rainyabari area of Bhai-Bonchhara Union under Khagrachhari Sadar. 25-year-old’s body recovered in Chandpur The deceased, Md. Monir Hossain, son of Md. Solaiman from Purba Muslim Para, died on the spot after being crushed by the vehicle, which lost control while climbing a hill, said Abdul Baten Mridha, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station.