The district administration in Rangamati yesterday withdrew section 144 in the municipal area.
A loudspeaker announcement was made in the area around 11am to let people know about the withdrawal, said Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Shamsul Arefin.
In the wake of clashes between local indigenous people and Awami League supporters on Saturday, the district administration imposed section 144 in Rangamati on the day.
The opening of a medical college in the hill district triggered the clashes as the PCJSS led by Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, better known as Santu Larma, has been opposing the establishment of the institution.
Around 30 people including police were injured in the clashes.
The local authorities also imposed a 12-hour curfew that came into effect at 8pm on Sunday. The curfew was lifted on Tuesday at 7am but officials decided to continue section 144.
Tension, however, still prevailed yesterday among the indigenous and the Bangalee people in the municipal area despite the withdrawal.
Not many people went shopping despite it being the weekly bazar day as a sense of panic was still there but the deputy commissioner claimed that the situation was quite calm.
Retailers and buyers in the local markets were mostly Bangalee settlers. No indigenous retailer was seen in the College Gate bazar, which is one of the four markets in the municipal area.
Borhan Uddin, who runs a food shop at College Gate, said: “This is not the usual picture of a weekly bazar day. The indigenous people are not seen like the usual times. We could not open shops for the last three days.”
Indigenous youths were mostly seen walking around in groups of three to five.
Shilpi Rani Chakma, an indigenous woman, said: “We are unable to buy essential commodities for the last three days. I came to the market today to buy some vegetables and other necessary food items.”
The deputy commissioner meanwhile held a discussion with journalists at his office yesterday evening.
“The chaos is now over and we dealt with it successfully. It has only been possible with the help of people from all backgrounds, communities and professions,” he said.
“We have formed a committee to investigate the incident and further steps will be taken based on the probe report. We also hope such incidents will never happen in the future,” added Shamsul.
