In Bangladesh, at least three people were shot dead as fresh violence erupted in Khagrachhari on Sunday during protests over the alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl belonging to an ethnic minority community.
According to local reports, thousands of demonstrators had gathered in the hill district to demand justice and the arrest of the accused. The protest turned violent when clashes broke out, prompting security forces to open fire. Three people from the ethnic community were killed, and several others were injured.
The incident follows days of unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where student groups and civil society bodies have accused authorities of failing to act against rising crimes against women. Protest leaders allege a culture of impunity and police inaction, pointing out that the suspects in last week’s rape case remain at large.
Barrister Devasish Roy, Raja of the Chakma Circle, has condemned the violence and reiterated demands for exemplary punishment of those responsible for the assault. Rights organisations have also called for restraint by law enforcement agencies and immediate steps to ensure justice.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Sunday voiced strong outrage and condemnation over the widespread violence and reported deaths in Khagrachhari, where vested interests allegedly turned a peaceful protest into unrest. The demonstration had been organized by indigenous communities demanding justice for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.
TIB noted with concern that, according to media reports, seven indigenous women have been raped in Khagrachhari district over the past year, yet none of these cases have resulted in justice. The organization asked what wrongdoing lies in the indigenous community’s rightful demand for justice after yet another brutal rape of a young girl, stressing that the army-controlled administration must be held accountable for this fundamental question. Authorities have deployed additional forces in Khagrachari as tensions remain high.
