Bangladesh

Villagers fleeing homes in fear

They worry of further violence after 8 killed in Bandarban ‘shootout’ between armed groups

Over 400 indigenous people of six villages have been fleeing from their residences ever since eight people were killed during a "shootout" between two armed groups at Rowangchhari upazila in Bandarban on Thursday night.

The villages are -- Prang sa Khamtang para, Paying khyang khamtang para, Kha mong khyang khamtang para, Kya plang para, Pan khyang para, Zur va ram para and Ronin para.

Police said United People's Democratic Front and Kuki-Chin National Army, the military wing of Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), were engaged in the gunfight on Thursday night over establishing supremacy in the hills of Khamtang Para and nearby areas.

The people fleeing belong to the Bawm and Kheyang communities of Rowangchhari and Ruma upazilas. They took shelter in schools and different organisations' offices at the upazila headquarters.

All eight deceased belong to the Bawm community, according to locals.

Sang Kung Bawam, 40, is one of the villagers who took shelter at a primary school in Rowangchhari along with her four daughters and elderly parents-in-law. Her husband Zahim Bawm, 45, is one of the eight victims.

"My husband was a carpenter. He was not involved with any criminal gang. But the criminals killed my husband without any reason," she said.

"How will we survive? How will my daughters continue their education?" she grieved.

Of her four daughters, the eldest studies at Bandarban Government Women's' College and the youngest is three years old.

Many of the escapees, said they had to leave their cattle and household utilities behind.

Local administration and people's representatives have kept distributing food and clothes among the people, said Khorshed Alam, UNO of Rowangchhari.

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Villagers fleeing homes in fear

They worry of further violence after 8 killed in Bandarban ‘shootout’ between armed groups

Over 400 indigenous people of six villages have been fleeing from their residences ever since eight people were killed during a "shootout" between two armed groups at Rowangchhari upazila in Bandarban on Thursday night.

The villages are -- Prang sa Khamtang para, Paying khyang khamtang para, Kha mong khyang khamtang para, Kya plang para, Pan khyang para, Zur va ram para and Ronin para.

Police said United People's Democratic Front and Kuki-Chin National Army, the military wing of Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), were engaged in the gunfight on Thursday night over establishing supremacy in the hills of Khamtang Para and nearby areas.

The people fleeing belong to the Bawm and Kheyang communities of Rowangchhari and Ruma upazilas. They took shelter in schools and different organisations' offices at the upazila headquarters.

All eight deceased belong to the Bawm community, according to locals.

Sang Kung Bawam, 40, is one of the villagers who took shelter at a primary school in Rowangchhari along with her four daughters and elderly parents-in-law. Her husband Zahim Bawm, 45, is one of the eight victims.

"My husband was a carpenter. He was not involved with any criminal gang. But the criminals killed my husband without any reason," she said.

"How will we survive? How will my daughters continue their education?" she grieved.

Of her four daughters, the eldest studies at Bandarban Government Women's' College and the youngest is three years old.

Many of the escapees, said they had to leave their cattle and household utilities behind.

Local administration and people's representatives have kept distributing food and clothes among the people, said Khorshed Alam, UNO of Rowangchhari.

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