UPDF holds road blockade in Khagracahri

chtnews.com
News No. 153/2009, October 14, 2009

Traffic to and from Khagrachari district headquarters remained suspended as the United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) held road blockade to force the government to concede to their five-point demands including punishment for Laxmichari zone commander Lt. Col. Shariful Islam for masterminding the killing of one of its central leaders.

Despite deployment of a large contingent army and police personnel to combat the pickets, the blockade ended successfully and by and large peacefully, without any major untoward incidents.

“The transport owners and workers associations responded positively to our request to honour our road blockade programme, and we thank them for this.” Ujjal Smriti Chakma told chtnews.com.

“It is good to see that they have ignored the pressure of the army commanders to defy our call and operate as usual.” he added.

Mr. Chakma urged the government to meet their five-point demands, and warned that “more of such programmes are in the offing if they are not met”.

UPDF called the road blockade following a series of attacks on its members and supporters in Laxmichari, leaving its central committee member Rui Khoi Marma dead and six injured.

The party blamed Laxmichari zone commander Lt. Col. Shariful Islam for masterminding these attacks and called for his punishment.

Today’s road blockade is the first such programmes UPDF has undertaken during its nearly 12- year existence as a party.

bdnews24.com reports, “Transport link between Khagrachhari and all Upazilas of the district remained suspended from Wednesday morning as the United People's Democratic Front enforced a road blockade programme in the district town.”

It adds: “Pickets enforcing the road blockade Wednesday damaged five vehicles in front fire service station at around 9:30am. No vehicles were moving towards the Upazilas fearing the pickets.”

Some over enthusiast pickets (or agent provocateurs?) beat up a Marma boy named Chailaprue Marma of Headman Para, Panchari in Khagrachari town for a petty issue. He has been admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment.

UPDF activists saw him at the hospital and enquired about his well being.

UPDF Khagrachari District Unit organiser Kalo Priya Chakma and PCP General Secretary Aongay Marma apologized for the incident and announced that they would bear all his medical expenses.