A shootout in the hill tract district of Khagrachhari, which erupted just before a scheduled event of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), has left six people killed on Saturday.
Three others are being treated with gunshot injuries sustained during the shooting between two groups at the district town’s Shwanirbhor Bazar in the morning.
The UPDF claims its rival Chattogram Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) was behind the attack, while the JSS blamed UPDF’s internal feud.
Police said the shooting between two groups, which lasted for nearly half an hour, erupted around 7:30am.
Four people were killed on the scene while two others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, according to Resident Physician Nayanmoy Tripura of the Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.
“Condition of those admitted with gunshot injuries are critical,” he added.
So far, identities of three killed have been confirmed. They are Tapan Chakma, the district unit acting president of UPDF-backed Pahari Chhatra Parishad, Assistant Secretary Elton Chakma and one Jitayan Chalma, who witnesses said was a pedestrian.
Khagrachhari’s Superintendent of Police Ali Ahmad Khan told Bangla Tribune, “According to witnesses, the gunmen belonged to UPDF’s rival JSS and its breakaway faction UPDF Ganatantrik. It seems to be a case of turf war, but everything can be confirmed after the investigation completes.”
UPDF Publicity wing chief Niran Chakma blamed JSS (MN Larma faction) for the killings. “There sole aim is to establish a reign of terror in the hills and today’s heinous attack was a part of it,” he said.
The JSS denied. “It’s an outcome of their internal feud. They have no reasons to blame us,” said JSS spokesperson Sudhangkar Chakma.
Conflict prevails between at least four active groups in the Hill Tracts which were once part of a single organisation called Chattogram Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS), which signed a peace treaty in 1997.
In 1998, the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) led by Preetam Khisha emerged, opposing the treaty between the then-Awami League administration and JSS led by Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma.
Since then the two groups have been locked in conflicts in the three hill tract districts — Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari.
At least a thousand of leaders and activists have died in the conflicts between the groups since then.
In 2007, a faction of JSS opposed Santu Larma’s leadership and became inactive until 2010, when they formed the JSS MN-Larma faction.
And last year, the UPDF splintered with the emergence of the UPDF (Ganatantrik) and opened up a fresh round of conflicts.

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