Chhatra League Stages Motorcycle Showdown in Ramu After Announcing It in Advance

❐ Local correspondent

Chhatra League leaders and activists held a motorcycle showdown and procession in Ramu Upazila of Cox’s Bazar, announcing the event in advance on social media. The organization’s workers’ rally was also held in Palangkhali Union of Ukhia Upazila the day before. The two programs have created new discussions and tension in the political arena of the district.

However, the police disagreed on whether the Ramu showdown happened on Sunday or not.

The motorcycle showdown started at around 7:30 am on Sunday from the area adjacent to Swapnatori Park in Rashidnagar Union of Ramu Upazila on the Cox’s Bazar-Chittagong Highway. Later, the convoy headed towards Joarianala via the highway. During this time, participants were seen chanting various slogans.

According to local sources, Ramu Upazila Chhatra League joint convener Tarek Uddin Mishuk announced the program on social media on Saturday afternoon, the day before the showdown.

Tarek Uddin Mishuk admitted to the showdown and said that the procession was held on Sunday morning. It was not raining in Ramu at that time, but it started raining after 9:30 am.

He claimed that more than a hundred leaders and activists of Chhatra League from different unions of the upazila participated in the procession. Upazila Chhatra League joint convener Shahin Sarwar Kajal and member Kawsar Shakib also led it. The organizers claim that the program was held peacefully.

However, Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Monirul Islam Bhuiyan has given a different statement on the matter. He claims that the advertised motorcycle showdown and procession did not take place on Sunday.

The OC said, it has been raining in Ramu since Sunday morning. But the sky appears clear in the video being circulated. So this could be a video of a showdown from some time ago, which is being circulated as if it was today.

On the other hand, former joint convener of Ramu Upazila Chhatra Dal, Nurul Islam, claimed that he was sure that the procession was on Sunday morning. He said that Chhatra Dal leaders and activists will hold a program to protest the incident.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, a rally was held at Palangkhali Union in Ukhia Upazila by the Chhatra League. Locals claim that more than a hundred leaders and activists participated in it.

Leaders and activists of BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal held a protest march in the Palangkhali station area on Saturday afternoon in protest against the rally. They chanted various slogans against Awami League and Chhatra League and demanded the immediate arrest of those who participated in the rally.

The Ramu motorcycle showdown and Ukhiya workers’ rally have created fresh tension in the political arena of Cox’s Bazar. The administration has informed that the incidents are being monitored. Necessary legal action will be taken after verifying the information received.