Khagrachhari: Thursday’s day-long hartal, enforced by five Bangalee settlers’ organisations demanding the withdrawal of the draft Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Land Dispute Resolution Commission (Amendment) Act 2016, was observed peacefully in almost the entire district, excluding Sadar upazila. UNB News Agency Reported.
Witnesses said a group of members of Parbataya Samaodhikar Andolon brought out a procession from Bhanga Bridge area of the district town around 11am in support of the hartal. Later, police foiled the procession at the court chattar.
Meanwhile, some demonstrators staged protests at the district bus terminal by torching tires.
The shutdown was less strictly observed in other upazilas of the district.
No vehicle was seen plying the roads in the district while no long-route bus left the district town. But some shops remained opened during the shutdown.
No untoward incidents occurred during the shutdown.
A large number of policemen remained deployed in the district to fend off any trouble.
On August 1, the cabinet approved the draft of the ‘Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission (Amendment) Act, 2016’ curtailing the discretionary power of the commission’s chairman in decision making, aiming to put an end to land disputes in the CHT.
Five Bangalee settlers’ organisations- Parbataya Nagarik Parishad, Parbataya Bangali Chhatra Parishad, Parbataya Samaodhikar Andolon, Parbataya Gano Parishad and Parbataya Bangalee Chhatra Oikyo Parishad–called the shutdown on Wednesday in the district protesting the move.
