Romel Chakma death: PCP declares blockade in Rangamati

The announcement by Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) came on Thursday, a day after Romel Chakma died at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

An indigenous students’ political group backed by the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) has declared a day-long blockade in Rangamati for Sunday, to protest the alleged torturing to death of its leader by the security services.

Through a statement signed by PCP Office Secretary Ronal Chakma, the group said it would observe a sit-in programme in front of the Rangamati deputy commissioner’s office on Tuesday, and boycott Naniarchar Bazar the following day.

The Democratic Youth Movement and five women’s groups of the Chittagong Hill Tracts including Hill Women’s Federation have expressed solidarity with the programmes.

Romel – a HSC examinee and the PCP Naniarchar unit general secretary – was taken by army members from Naniarchar Bazar to a camp on April 5 and later handed over to the police. His family members were barred from meeting him at the camp, as well as in the hospital.

On April 6, Romel’s father wrote to National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque demanding justice for the “inhuman torture” inflicted upon his son by the army personnel.

UPDF and PCP have also alleged that Romel was severely tortured by the army personnel, a claim refuted by the force.

In the statement, the groups demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the incident, punishment for Naniarchar Zone Commander Md Bahlul Alam and Maj Tanvir, compensation for the family, and an end to torture and harassment in the name of security drives.

The UPDF in a separate statement termed the alleged incident of torture “medieval brutality”. The leaders have demanded the arrest of Maj Tanvir and “exemplary punishment for all the people responsible for the death of Romel”.

They also demanded that the army and law enforcers should stop arresting innocent people without specific charges.

According to the army’s ISPR, Romel was already sick when he was detained by the army personnel on April 5 and was handed over to the police on the same day. ISPR Director Lt Col Rashidul Hassan told a Bangla newspaper that no army personnel had tortured Romel.

Source: dhakatribune