Bloodshed is common in the hills tracts and lives are being lost every month. To stop this, a two day high profile meet was held in Rangamati last month.
Attending the meeting, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal, said: “Those who are engaged in extortion, murder and depravity will soon face the strong arm of the law.”
At the meet, held on Oct 16 and 17, IGP Dr Javed Patwary, DG of DGFI, Major General Saiful Abedin, DG of BGB Major General Shafin Ahmed, DG of RAB Benazir Ahmed, secretary for hill tracts ministry Mezbahul Islam and others were present.
Five days after the meet, there was violence in the hill area and former upazila chairman Dipamoy Talukder was abducted and shot dead.
The locals feel that four parties in the hill tracts are divided in two factions: Chattogram Janosanghati Samity (JSS), led by Santu Larma and Prasit Khisa led United Democratic Front (UPDF) are working together. Sudhasindhu Khisa led JSS and UPDF led by Shyamol Kanti are united.
After Santu Larma surrendered weapons to the government, peace came to the hills for some time but opposing Santu, a faction broke away from JSS and emerged as UPDF on Jun 26 in Dhaka.
The JSS split again in 2010 and led to the formation of JSS-MS Larma.
UPDF (democratic) President Shyamol Kanto Chakma said: “The Hills tracts are restive and violent due to UPDF led by Prasit Khisa; if they had not opposed the peace treaty the hills would not be so turbulent today.”
“We want to end bloodshed but it’s not been possible because of the feud between Santu Larma’s JSS and Prasit Khisa’s UPDF; both are traitors,” he alleged.
Meanwhile Rangamati police SP Alamgir Kabir said: “Several decisions were taken last month at the high profile meet and once they are implemented, violence will decline.”