Ethnic violence between indigenous Chakma and Bengali communities has intensified in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, leading to the deaths of at least four minority men and injuring dozens more in the Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts. The clashes have also displaced hundreds of families, forcing them to abandon their homes and businesses for safety, as 50 shops and numerous houses were set ablaze in Khagrachhari, Indian state owned DD News reported.

Tensions have escalated, with reports of attacks targeting Buddhist temples, while loudspeakers from mosques allegedly incited Bengali mobs, further exacerbating the violence. Authorities responded by imposing Section 144 in both Khagrachhari and Rangamati, restricting public gatherings to contain the situation. In response to the violence, protestors have called for a 72-hour blockade of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, set to begin on Saturday morning, aiming to protest the recent attacks and arson in the region. The unrest has also sparked demonstrations in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh, with public frustration mounting over the lack of stability in the region.

Bangladesh's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement urging community leaders to work with law enforcement to de-escalate tensions, warning that the violence could trigger wider unrest across the three hill districts, including Bandarban. The potential for more widespread conflict in the area has raised concerns about stability in the already volatile region.