Hathazari calm after clashes between madrasah students and Sunnis, admin to meet both sides today
Section 144, imposed after the skirmishes, remains in effect until 3pm
Highlights:
- At least 100 injured in skirmishes
- Section 144 in effect till 3pm today
- Clashes triggered by Facebook post
- Person behind post in police custody
The atmosphere in Chattogram's Hathazari Upazila has calmed down following clashes between students of a madrasah and Sunni Muslims. A meeting with both sides has been scheduled by the upazila administration for 4pm today (7 September).
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, imposed after the skirmishes, which bans gatherings in the affected areas, remains in effect until 3pm.
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Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Muhammad Abdullah Al Mumin told The Business Standard, "The situation is now calm, and traffic and overall condition are now normal."
Clashes erupted last night between students of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Uloom Moinul Islam Madrasa in Hathazari and Sunnis returning home after attending Jashn-e-Julus, a procession held on the occasion of Eid-e-Miladunnabi.
At least 100 people were injured in the incident, triggered by a Facebook post. Several buses of the Sunnis were also vandalised.
To prevent further unrest, UNO Abdullah, also executive magistrate, imposed Section 144 in the area from 10pm yesterday until 3pm today.
According to the order imposing Section 144, gatherings of more than five people, rallies, processions, carrying explosives or firearms and any kind of assembly are prohibited in the areas from Mirerhat to Eleven Mile Substation and from the upazila gate to the Agriculture Training Institute.
Earlier yesterday, police arrested Arian Ibrahim, a resident of Ward 3 in Fatikchhari municipality, over a Facebook post that sparked the violence.
He allegedly uploaded a photo making obscene gestures in front of the Hathazari madrasah mosque while on the way to the Jashn-e-Julus.
The post quickly went viral on social media, sparking tension in the area. Police later took him into custody on the UNO's orders.
