Khagrachhari, Sept 29 (V7N) – The Bangladesh Army has issued a detailed statement regarding the recent communal violence in Khagrachhari and Guimara Upazila on September 27 and 28. The statement was posted on the verified Facebook page of the army on Sunday night.
 
The army noted that last year, on September 19, 2024, following the murder of a motorbike rider named Mamun, the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) and its affiliates attempted to create communal instability in Dighinala and Rangamati, engaging in clashes with security forces that resulted in three deaths and injuries to several locals. This year, on the anniversary of the incident, UPDF and its associated groups organized protest marches in several areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, attempting to replicate the unrest.
 
On September 23, 2025, following allegations of sexual assault of a schoolgirl in Singinala, Khagrachhari, the suspected individual, Shoyon Sheel, was arrested on September 24 with army assistance and remanded to police custody. Despite the arrest, UPDF-affiliated groups, including PCP leader Ukhyan Marma under the banner of “Jummo Student Janata,” called for protest marches and human chains in Khagrachhari. On September 25, a half-day strike was observed in the district, while online campaigns by bloggers and some local leaders fueled tension.
 
On September 26, UPDF leader Ukhyan Marma and others incited unrest through social media, leading to violent clashes in Khagrachhari. During the protests, unruly individuals attacked army patrols with bricks and stones, injuring three soldiers. The army exercised restraint, avoiding the use of force while maintaining public safety.
 
On September 27, UPDF and affiliated groups escalated attacks, targeting Bengali civilians, damaging property, attacking ambulances, and obstructing roads, leading to a serious deterioration of law and order. The situation temporarily escalated into a communal clash, prompting the district administration to impose Section 144 in Khagrachhari and Guimara. Security forces, including the army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), worked throughout the night to restore control, preventing a larger communal conflict.
 
Following the failed attempt to incite riots in Khagrachhari municipality, UPDF and its affiliates blocked roads at Ramesu Bazar in Guimara on Sunday morning, inciting locals to obstruct the Khagrachhari-Guimara road. Clashes erupted around 10:30 a.m., during which armed individuals attacked army personnel with firearms, sticks, and stones, injuring ten soldiers, including three officers. BGB vehicles were also damaged during attacks in Ramgarh. Armed UPDF members fired 100–150 rounds from elevated positions toward both locals and security forces. The army responded, forcing the militants to withdraw.
 
During the unrest, external elements associated with UPDF set fire to homes and businesses in Ramesu Bazar. Additional army units were deployed to restore order, and by 4:30 p.m., the situation was under control.
 
The army’s statement emphasized that UPDF and its affiliates are systematically attempting to destabilize the Chittagong Hill Tracts, forcing women and schoolchildren to participate in violent acts, and bringing weapons into the region to incite communal violence. A large cache of homemade weapons was recently seized from a passenger bus by the BGB’s Kaptai Battalion.
 
The Bangladesh Army urged all political leaders and residents in the hill districts to exercise restraint, cooperate with law enforcement, and refrain from spreading misinformation or incitement. The army reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the territorial integrity of Bangladesh and ensuring the safety of all ethnic communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
 
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