Roads and waterways in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts will be blockaded for 7 hours on Saturday following a call by the Chhatra-Janatar Sangram Parishad to protest attacks on blockade participants, baton charges and vandalism of homes and shops in Sajek, Baghai Chhari upazila of Rangamati.
The program was announced by the organization’s president, Ushaton Chakma, in a statement sent to the media on Thursday afternoon.
The statement said the blockade was called in protest against attacks, baton charges and vandalism during a peaceful road blockade demanding the removal of armed members of the JSS Santu Group from Sajek. It was also announced in support of Sajek residents’ demands.
According to the announcement, the blockade will remain in force across the 2 districts from 5am to 12 noon on Saturday.
Ushaton Chakma sought cooperation from democratic and progressive organizations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, as well as transport owners’ and workers’ organizations in Rangamati and Khagrachhari, to make the program successful.
Ambulances and vehicles carrying patients, dead bodies or emergency medicines, as well as fire service vehicles and vehicles carrying journalists, will remain exempt from the blockade.