A clash has reported between indigenous people and Bangalees in Dighinala of Khagrachari district.
The incident took place at in the Larma Square area around 5pm on Tuesday,
It is alleged that agitated Bangalees set fire to the shops and homes of the indigenous people.
The clash ensued centring the death of Md Mamun, 30. He was beaten to death in the Pankhaiya Para area of Ward 6 in Khagrachari municipality around 5am on Wednesday.Mamun was the son of the late Nur Nabi from the Madhyashalbagan area of Khagrachari.
Mamun's relatives have accused the residents of Pankhaiya Para for the incident.
Local sources indicate that Mamun was caught while attempting to steal a motorcycle from a house in the area early Wednesday morning. He was severely beaten and fell to the ground, bleeding.
He was taken to Khagrachari Sadar Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, showing two to three individuals beating the young man in the dark with mobile phone and flashlight light. Despite his cries for mercy, they did not stop.
Many have taken to Facebook to protest this incident, demanding a thorough investigation.
Eyewitnesses reported that around 5pm, the Bangalee people began a protest march from the Jamtoli and Boalkhali markets. When they tried to proceed towards Larma Square, they were confronted by indegenous people, leading to the outbreak of violence.
During the clash, approximately 47 houses and shops near Larma Square and beside Dighinala College were set ablaze.
Mohammad Lokman Hossain from Dighinala Bazar stated that they had organized a peaceful march demanding justice for Mamun's murder, but were met with resistance from the indigenous people, leading to the unrest.
He said: “We could not imagine that the shops could be torched in such way.”
Resident Santosh Chakma from the Larma Square area claimed that the indigenous did not block the march; instead, the attack and arson were initiated from the protest itself.
Khagrachari Deputy Commissioner Md Shahiduzzaman mentioned that a peace and order meeting was scheduled at Pankhaiya Para Primary School to address the previous day's events.
During this meeting, news of the clash in Dighinala reached him. Currently, law enforcement agencies are patrolling the area to maintain law order situation.
Meanwhile, in protest against the incident, hundreds of indigenous students held a demonstration in Bandarban on Thursday night.