Protests, road blockade continue in Rangamati demanding Dipen Dewan's reinstatement

Leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations staged road blockades and demonstrations in Rangamati for the second consecutive day, demanding the reinstatement of recently resigned Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs minister Dipen Dewan.

At around 6:30pm yesterday (2 June), protesters blocked a road in the College Gate area of the town by burning tyres. Vehicular movement on the road remained suspended for about half an hour.

Earlier, a protest procession was brought out from the College Gate area. The procession marched through College Gate, TTC and Kalyanpur before circling KK Roy Road and returning to College Gate, where it concluded with a rally.

Participants chanted slogans including, "We do not accept Dipen Dewan's resignation" and "Cancel the conspiratorial resignation".

Traffic returned to normal around 7pm after the rally ended.

Speaking at the rally, Rangamati district BNP Volunteer Affairs Secretary Md Bacchu Miah called on the prime minister to reconsider Dipen Dewan's resignation and bring him back to the cabinet.

He also warned that the people of Rangamati would launch a tougher movement if any harm came to him as a result of a conspiracy.

Among others, Rangamati district BNP Education Affairs Secretary Shibli Shanti Chakma, District Mohila Dal President Nur Jahan Begum Parul and municipal unit Sramik Dal General Secretary Kader Ali also addressed the gathering.

More than a hundred leaders and activists from the BNP and its associate bodies attended the programme.

On Monday (1 June), Dipen Dewan submitted his resignation letter to the prime minister, citing physical illness.

Demanding the withdrawal of his resignation, BNP leaders and activists held demonstrations and road blockades in front of the district BNP office in Kathaltali on Monday and at College Gate yesterday.

Since Dipen Dewan's resignation, political circles have been rife with speculation over the reasons behind the move.

Meanwhile, amid growing discussion and speculation in the region's political circles over his resignation, a Facebook post by BNP Central Committee Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs Lt Col (retd) Manish Dewan yesterday morning sparked fresh controversy, with the party leader making several claims about the matter.

In the post, he claimed that Dipen Dewan lost his ministerial position after recommending him for nomination as chairman of the Rangamati Hill District Council.

He also referred to differences of opinion within the party regarding the nomination for the chairman's post.

Manish Dewan further alleged that Dipen Dewan had been forced to resign against his will.

However, no official statement has been received from the relevant parties regarding these claims.

Rangamati district BNP Vice-President Advocate Saiful Islam Poni, known as a close associate of Dipen Dewan, said they were shocked by the news of the resignation.

"We were stunned when we heard the news. We never imagined he could take such a decision. He did not discuss it with party leaders and activists, nor did he seek any advice. And his physical condition is not such that resignation was necessary," he said.

Rangamati district BNP General Secretary Advocate Mamunur Rashid Mamun said, "I do not understand why he did this. Even if there was any grievance or other reason, he could have discussed it with the district BNP and party activists."

Local leaders said there may have been differences of opinion over several recent organisational issues, although they were not certain about the actual reason behind the resignation.

Dipen Dewan's political journey

Dipen Dewan joined BNP politics in 2005 after resigning from his position as a joint district judge.

As he was unable to contest his first election due to complications related to service rules, his wife Maitree Chakma was nominated instead.

He was elected president of the Rangamati district BNP in 2010 and served as co-secretary for Religious Affairs of the BNP Central Committee from 2016.

His father, Subimal Dewan, served as tribal affairs adviser to late President Ziaur Rahman.

Dipen Dewan was the first full minister of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry following the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997.

Notably, Moni Swapan Dewan, who served as a state minister from Rangamati during the BNP government, also resigned in 2006.

The resignations of two prominent political figures from the hill region within a span of nearly two decades have generated renewed discussion.

However, despite repeated attempts to contact him, no statement could be obtained from Dipen Dewan regarding the reasons for his resignation.

His personal assistants also could not be reached for comment.