A dawn-to-dusk hartal, enforced by Parbattya Bangali Chhatra Parishad (PBCP) protesting the killing of Juba League leader Nayan and mass arrest of Bengali settlers in Langadu, passed off peacefully in the district yesterday. The supporters of PBCP, a council of Bangali settlers, were seen picketing at the entrances of Maniksari, Vedevedi, College gate and Banrupa areas in the morning, witnesses said. The picketers also blocked the roads with flaming tires and falling trees on the roads in municipality area. Vehicular movement on internal and long routes and waterways remained off since the morning. Additional law enforcers were deployed in the area to avoid any unwanted situation.
The agitation started after Nurul Islam Nayan, organising secretary of Sadar union unit Jubo League, was found dead on a road in Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari on June 1. He used to carry passengers on his bike in and outside Rangamati for a living. Following the incident, Bangali settlers unleashed a series of arson attacks on indigenous people in Longadu on June 2. More than 200 houses and shops were looted, vandalised and burned to ashes, according to victims.