If decisive action had been taken in three previous incidents, the latest violence in Rangamati could have been avoided, according to Raja Devasish Roy, the titular king of the Chakmas.
He referred to the previous clashes of 20 May 1993, 22 September 2012, and 13 January 2015 when violence erupted between ethnic communities and Bangalis in Rangamati.
He made the comment during an interview with The Business Standard yesterday following a meeting of a delegation of the interim government, local political and transport leaders, and law enforcement officials.
He also questioned whether the attendees at yesterday’s meeting had reviewed reports from previous attacks and expressed concerns about the home ministry’s “institutional memory” regarding past violent incidents.
He believes that if law enforcement had taken appropriate actions in the past, the recent violence could have been minimised, reducing casualties and property damage.
“This isn’t the first time such violence has occurred, and those responsible have yet to be identified or held accountable. Failing to punish past offenders sends a message that this behaviour has no consequences,” he said.
Devashish Roy, who served as a special assistant to the chief adviser of the caretaker government in 2006-2008, noted that during the meeting, the home adviser stated that no one would escape accountability for the violence.
“We, too, desire that law enforcement act within the bounds of the law,” he said, emphasising the need for various measures to prevent future incidents,” he said in response.
The ongoing cycle of violence in Rangamati calls for immediate and effective action to ensure the safety and protection of all communities in the region, he added.
He highlighted the need for an independent, impartial, and properly empowered commission to investigate the recent incidents in Rangamati. “This should involve multiple disciplines, not just one individual.”
