http://www.thedailystar.net/2003/12/09/d31209012121.htm
The Daily Star, Tue. December 09, 2003
Star Report
A dawn-to-dusk hartal in the three districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) called by Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) was observed yesterday by and large peacefully.
Reports received in Dhaka said only in Khagrachhari some stray incidents of violence occurred leaving a child bullet-injured.
The hartal passed off peacefully in Rangamati and Bandarban.
Army and police were deployed across the CHT region to avert untoward incidents.
The PCJSS called the hartal to press its demands for removal of the chairman of the CHT Development Board, full implementation of the CHT peace accord, removal of temporary army camps from the CHT region and appointment of a full indigenous minister for the CHT affairs ministry.
Our Khagrachhari correspondent reported that activists of the PCJSS and United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) had gunfights at five places in the district.
A boy named Jewel Tripura at the district town was seriously injured as stray bullets hit him.
The other incidents took place at Giriful of Mahalchhari and Pankhaiyapara, Khagrapur and Tokaichhari of Ramgarh.
Hundreds of PCJSS activists picketed in support of the hartal on different roads in the district town.
Some shops remained open during the hartal in Babuchhara, Kopakhali, Pujgang and Bizitali area as the UPDF is strong in those areas.
Shops remained open in those areas in five upazilas including Matiranga, Ramgarh, Manikchhari and Panchhari and in Shapla Chattar area of the town, which have many Bangalee inhabitants.
PCJSS leaders held a rally after the hartal and asked the government to accept its demands.
Our Rangamati correspondent reported that hartal was observed there without any violence.
General Secretary of the PCJSS Chandra Shekhar Chakma announced at a rally that they would go for a fresh programme in January if the government did not implement the peace accord by December 31.
The rally was held at the Court building premises. The PCJSS' student wing Pahari Chhatra Parishad and Hill Women's Federation also took part in the hartal. Bangladesh Students Union and the Original and Old Bangalee Welfare Association also supported it.
Meanwhile, the Parbatya Bangalee Students Organisation held a rally protesting the hartal and demanded removal of PCJSS chief Shantu Larma.
Our Bandarban correspondent also reported that the hartal was peaceful.
The PCJSS and Parbatya Bangalee Gana Parishad held separate rallies.