A teacher was beaten to death today in Khagrachari over allegations of sexual harassment, sparking tensions between local hill and Bengali communities. The district administration has imposed Section 144 to prevent further violence, effective from 3 p.m. today.
The teacher, Abul Hasnat Mohammad Sohel Rana, was attacked by a group of students and others at Khagrachari Technical School and College after being accused of sexually harassing a student. He was the Chief Instructor of the Building Construction and Safety department at the school.
Sohel Rana had previously been jailed in 2021 over an attempted rape charge involving a student but was released three months ago. Today’s incident escalated when new allegations surfaced, leading to protests by students. Eventually, a group of 10-15 young men entered the principal’s office, where they severely beat him. Despite police attempts to intervene, they were unable to save him. Rana was taken to Khagrachari Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Following the incident, groups from both hill and Bengali communities gathered in separate protests, with some shops in the Mahajanpara area being vandalized and a house set on fire. Tensions remain high in the area, with both sides clashing. Security forces, including police and the army, are patrolling the area to maintain order.
This comes after a similar incident on September 18, when a man named Mamun was beaten to death over a motorcycle theft allegation. That incident also led to ethnic tensions between hill and Bengali communities, resulting in several deaths and property damage.
The authorities have issued Section 144 in response to today’s violence, banning large gatherings to prevent further clashes. The situation remains tense, with police working to calm both sides.
Source: Prothom Alo
