Three Shot Dead as Khagrachhari Protest over Schoolgirl’s Rape Turns Violent

At least three people were shot dead in Guimara upazila during clashes that erupted amid a day-long blockade protesting the alleged gang rape of a 12-year-old Marma schoolgirl.

The blockade called by student-led platform Jumma Chhatra Janata brought traffic to a standstill across key routes as a heavy security deployment moved to disperse crowds and reopen roads.

Authorities confirmed that the three victims were brought dead to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital on Sunday evening after violence flared around Guimara Bazar. A senior police official from the Chattogram Range said investigators are working to determine “who fired the bullets and how the deaths occurred,” while acknowledging additional injuries at the scene.

The Home Ministry expressed sorrow over the casualties and reported that 13 army personnel, three policemen, and several locals were injured during the unrest. Local administration-imposed Section 144 across parts of the district in an attempt to prevent further gatherings and restore order.

The protest followed consecutive days of agitation, with tyres burned and trunks felled to block roads as demonstrators demanded swift arrests and exemplary punishment for the alleged assailants.

Businesses in parts of the district shuttered, and later in the afternoon, a market area in Guimara was set ablaze, damaging several shops and nearby houses, according to local reports. Emergency services and additional forces were mobilized to contain fires and stabilize the situation.

Officials said a formal investigation has been opened into the shooting deaths, arson, and associated violence.

Rights groups and community representatives urged restraint and called for a transparent probe into both the rape allegation and the use of force during crowd control. As of Sunday night, the district remained tense, with security patrols continuing and the blockade organizers vowing to press for arrests and a time-bound charge sheet.

Sources: The Daily Star, New Age Bangladesh, The Business Standard, Prothom Alo, Daily Observe