UPDF lifts blockade after election postponement in Bagaichhari
STAFF REPORTER, RANGAMATI
The United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF Prasit Group) lifted its blockade in Bagaichhari Upazila, Rangamati, after the Upazila Parishad election was postponed.
The announcement came in a press release signed by Satchal Chakma, chief of the UPDF Rangamati unit, on Saturday afternoon. The press release warned that future occupation of polling stations, threats to election agents, or sheltering of their rival group by Baghaichhari market authorities would lead to indefinite boycotts and stringent measures against the Baghaichhari market.
Earlier, the Election Commission postponed the Upazila Parishad election due to concerns over deteriorating law and order.
The blockade had stranded over three hundred tourists in the tourist city of Sajek, but local administration and law enforcement agencies assisted in their departure.
The UPDF Prasit Group had called for a dawn-to-dusk blockade on Saturday, demanding a fair election and citing threats to the agents of the chairman and female vice-chairman candidates. During the blockade, UPDF activists set a motorcycle on fire in the Atakilo area of the Upazila.
The Bagaichhari Upazila Parishad election was initially scheduled for May 29 but was postponed due to Cyclone ‘Remal’. The rescheduled election on June 9 was also postponed due to security concerns, marking the second postponement of the election in this Upazila.
