Tension is mounting in Bandarban ahead of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) leader Santu Larma’s visit and the general strike imposed by Jago Parbatyabashi, a Bangali association.
Santu is scheduled to visit the district on March 12 while Pahari Chhatra Parishad will hold its district council the next day.
Protesting Santu’s visit, Jago Parbatyabashi has called a 36-hour strike for March 12 and 13.
Abidur Rahman, convener of Jago Parbatyabashi and joint convener of Bandarban district Jubo Dal, said the strike was to protest extortion and terror acts of the PCJSS in the hills that had made it difficult for traders to operate their businesses.
He said the association’s activists would hold a protest rally in Bandarban town on March 11.
Meanwhile, Santu, also the chairman of Parbatya Chattagram Anchalik Parishad, will be arriving in Bandarban to attend the Pahari Chhatra Parishad’s council, which will be held at Faruk Para in Chimbuk Hill.
KS Mong Marma, a central PCJSS leader and a member of Parbatya Chattagram Anchalik Parishad, said he was unaware of the strike imposed by Jago Parbatyabashi.
Jago Parbatyabashi started its journey on February 25 when its activists formed a human chain in front of Bandarban Press Club to protest extortion in hills.
Bangali activists of both the Awami League and the BNP participated in the human chain.
Speaking about the extortion, Bandarban district Sramik League Organising Secretary Abdul Jalil and district Sramik Dal General Secretary Kamal Uddin said the Bangalis need to collect tokens to transport goods in the hills which is not the case for the hill people.
The blockade imposed by the BNP on January 5 and the subsequent general strikes did not affect life in Bandarban at all but locals fear that the upcoming programmes could lead to unrest.