The team of the interim government that visited the violence-torn Khagrachari and Rangamati hill districts on Saturday warned that attacks on places of religious worship would not be tolerated.
The team of three advisers also announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the violence that rocked the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the past three days.
The advisers also promised that wrongdoers would be brought to justice, said a press release sent by the chief adviser鈥檚 press wing.
Home adviser retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, adviser for local government, rural development, and cooperatives AF Hassan Ariff, and adviser for CHT affairs Supradip Chakma visited Rangamati and Khagrachhari on Saturday.
They discussed the law and order situation with the local people and officials concerned after four people were killed in clashes in the region.
The advisers met with local political leaders, elites, business/trade body representatives, media representatives, law enforcement agencies, and district council representatives in Rangamati and Khagrachhari district headquarters and listened to the concerns expressed by the participants at the sudden deterioration of the situation following the murder of a Bengali man in mob beating at Khagrachhari on 18 September.
The advisers expressed their deepest sympathies for those who lost their lives, and they all stressed the importance of maintaining harmony, empathy, and peaceful coexistence between all communities, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity.
It was pointed out that the onus of responsibility for maintaining harmony and peace in the area lay on the local leaders, who must henceforth perform their due role.
The advisers also pointed out that vested groups were trying to destabilise the situation with a view to putting the interim government in an awkward situation. They urged everyone to remain vigilant.
Law enforcement agencies working in the area were asked to show maximum restraint.
The advisers assured the local people that a high-level committee would be formed to investigate all incidents that took place in the past three days and wrongdoers would be brought to justice.
They assured that no attacks would be tolerated on the places of worship.
The advisers said that no one should take the law into their own hands irrespective of the situation and warned of stern actions in the event of anyone violating the instruction.
They said that treatment of all injured persons would be ensured, and if necessary, military hospitals would be made available for their treatment.
Committees comprising people from all communities should be formed at the village, union and upazila levels to maintain harmony and peace, advisers insisted.
Retired Lieutenant General Abdul Hafiz, special assistant to chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, was also present.
