Bangladesh Army yesterday changed its Khagrachari unit brigade commander and Rangamati district's Baghaihat army zone's commanding officer in the wake of recent unrest in the hill districts that claimed three lives.
Army sources said Brig Gen Hamidur Rahman Chowdhury has been made the new commander of Khagrachari army brigade replacing Brig Gen MM Salehin.
At Baghaihat zone, Lt Col Mohsin Alam has been assigned as the zone's new commander replacing Lt Col Wasimul Haque who has been posted to Ruma in Bandarban.
Both the officers took their offices yesterday.
Meanwhile, the authorities withdrew Section-144 from Baghaichhari upazila yesterday afternoon as normalcy returned to the violence-hit Sajek valley.
The Section-144, which prohibits assembly of five or more persons, holding of public meetings, and carrying of firearms, was imposed in the upazila following February 19-20 clashes between Bangalee settlers and indigenous people.
Two persons were killed and scores of houses were torched during the violence.
Most of the indigenous people felt somewhat relieved with the withdrawal of the section after nine days but they still find it difficult to resume their regular livelihood as many of them have lost their shelter due to arsons.
Besides, they also complained of harassments in the name of interrogation by the army patrolling in the remote hilly region.
Sadhana Chakma, an arson victim of Karalyachhari, yesterday said, “I feel relieved as section 144 is withdrawn but the army is still harassing us in the name of interrogation.”
So far, some 390 families have been listed as affected and they each received Tk 1,000 and 20 kilograms of rice as relief from the government yesterday.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Baghaichhari Basirul Haque Bhuiyan and Chairman Sudarshan Chakma distributed the relief among the people.
Meanwhile, the victims are still waiting for corrugated iron sheets to start rebuilding their houses.
Sourendra Nath Chakrabarty, deputy commissioner of Rangamati, yesterday said section 144 was withdrawn from Baghaichhari as the situation has calmed in the area.
Rangamati Superintendent of Police Masud-ul-Hassan said the situation has improved. The indigenous people have started to return to their villages and police--both in uniform and plain clothes--are kept vigilant, the SP added.