Home Adviser Lt Gen (Rtd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury hinted at taking stern action against those responsible for the mayhem in hill tracts.
“Those, who will be responsible for the deterioration in the law and order, will not be spared,” he told reporters at a briefing in Rangamati on Saturday.
He also said that if they try to do so again in future, their hands will be broken. The law and order cannot be allowed to be deteriorated under any circumstances.”
The home adviser said that a high-powered probe body would be formed to investigate the mayhem in the hill tracts.
“An exemplary punishment will be awarded to those responsible for the mayhem and it will become an example for the future,” he said.
The acts of violence erupted at the death of one Md Mamun who was beaten to death on suspicion of theft in Khagrachhari on September 18.
Earlier, a high-level delegation led by Home Adviser visited Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts following fierce clashes that left at least four people killed and nearly 100 injured in the two districts.
Other members of the delegation were Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (CHT) Adviser Supradip Chakma, LGRD Affairs Adviser A F Hassan Ariff and special assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defence and National Unity Development Lt Gen (Rtd) Abdul Hafiz.
Hassan Ariff sensed conspiracy behind the unrest in the CHT to destroy the harmony.
“A quarter from outside is hatching conspiracy to destroy our harmony. People who have been involved with the incidents of Rangamati and Khagrachhari will be brought to book after investigation,” he said.
The delegation also held a meeting with several local political leaders, representatives from various ethnic groups, and members of law enforcement agencies at the Rangamati Cantonment.
Rangamati district BNP president Deepan Talukder, party's general secretary Advocate Mamunur Rashid Mamun, central BNP tribal affairs secretary Deepen Dewan, Jamaat-e-Islami Rangamati district leader Harunur Rashid, JSS central vice president Ushatan Talukder and JSS district president Dr Ganga Manik Chakma, among others, attended the meeting.
During the meeting, they discussed about the current law and order situation in Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban.
As violent clashes erupted in the hill districts of Khagrachhari and Rangamati on Friday, the administration of the two districts imposed Section 144 to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, a 72-hour transport strike has been called by hill students in three districts, leading to a complete blockade of roads and waterways.
An indefinite transport strike has also been called in Rangamati, causing a standstill in the city.
In response to the situation, police and army patrols have increased their presence throughout the area.
