Four Killed in Ethnic Violence in Bangladesh

Four people were killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh on Friday amid escalating ethnic violence, Dawn revealed today.

The military reported that troops opened fire after being shot at by members of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), a tribal rebel group. The violence erupted following the lynching of a Bengali-speaking man accused of theft, which led to retaliatory attacks on tribal-owned businesses.

Local police confirmed that two individuals were shot dead, while a third died from a sharp object. The unrest has roots in long-standing tensions between tribal groups and Bengali settlers over land and resources. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sadness over the violence and pledged investigations into the incidents. Despite a 1997 peace agreement, calls for the implementation of its terms continue as tensions remain high in the region.