Progotishil Chhatra Jote, an alliance of progressive student bodies, has demanded proper investigation into the death of Romel Chakma, a Rangamati-based leader of Pahari Chhatra Parishad.
From a human chain on Dhaka University campus Sunday, leaders of the group also urged the government to ensure exemplary punishment of the people responsible for the death of Romel, who was an HSC examinee.
They earlier held a procession on the campus.
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When allegations of torture came against the army after the death of Romel on Wednesday, the army’s media wing ISPR refuted the claims adding that they had detained him but he was not tortured.
Romel was handed over to the police on April 6, a day after the army of Naniarchar camp held him and took him in their custody. Police admitted him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital the same day as he complained chest pain.
Liton Nandi, general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, said: “Romel could have been tried under the law if he had committed any crimes. But the army has not been given the authority to torture a person to death violating the law.”
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Shulobh Chakma, central publicity and publication secretary of the PCP, alleged that the subsequent governments had been ignoring the rights of the indigenous peoples living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts since independence, “though both the Bangalis and adivasi people took part in the Liberation War.”
He deplored that no army personnel had ever been tried for killing and torturing the indigenous peoples in the past.
GM Gilani Shuvo, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, observed that the military had been tarnishing its glorious past by oppressing the indigenous peoples in the CHT. He also asked the military high-ups to bring to book the officials responsible for Romel’s torture.
UPDF and PCP have also demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and arrest of Naniarchar army officials. The indigenous groups observed road and waterways blockade in Rangamati district Sunday protesting the death of Romel.