At least three people were killed and 17 others injured following arson attacks and violence in Khagrachhari.
The deceased have been identified as Dhananjay Chakma, Rubel Tripura, and Junan Chakma, 20.
They died while undergoing treatment at Adhunik Sadar Hospital.
Ahsan Habib Palash, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Chittagong Range Police, confirmed the incident on Friday.
At around 10:30pm on Thursday, heavy gunfire was heard in several areas of the town, spreading fear throughout the district. The shooting continued late into the night.
Dhananjay Chakma died during the clashes in Dighinala on Thursday evening, while the other two were brought to the hospital from Khagrachhari later that night with injuries.
Ripple Bappi Chakma, resident medical officer (RMO) at Khagrachhari District Hospital, said 15 injured individuals were brought to the hospital late at night, most of them from the town area.
Three of them died, and the cause of death will be confirmed after autopsies. Nine others are currently receiving treatment, he added.
Ripple Bappi Chakma also said that four people were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for better treatment. “There is a Bangalee among them. The remaining nine injured belonging to ethnic minorities could be treated at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.”
The attacks followed the death of a Bangalee man named Md Mamun. He died in a mob beating following suspicions that he stole a motorcycle in Khagrachhari on Wednesday.
In protest of this incident, Bangalee people organized a protest march in Dighinala on Thursday afternoon.
It is alleged that the ethnic minority people attempted to block the march, sparking the clash.
At one point, houses and shops belonging to the group were set on fire, forcing them to flee into the dense hills for safety.
