08 June 2004
The central office of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) in a press statement today, June 8, strongly condemned undue interference by Naniachar zone commander Lieut. Col. Ekramul Yasin in the Party’s preparation to launch a branch office at Naniachari sub-district in Rangamati.
The statement said, “as a regional political party UPDF has participated in the last Eighth Parliamentary elections and gained sizeable votes in Rangamati and Khagrachari constituencies. The Party has open offices at capital city Dhaka, port city Chittagong, and in different areas of Rangamati and Khagrachari districts. It is also conducting activities at Bandarban district headquarter.”
The press statement further said the fact that an army officer ordered not to open Party offices at Naniachar proves that the Chittagong Hill Tracts was still under virtual military rule.
It is to be mentioned here that all is set to launch the office on 15 June. Central leaders from Hill Students Council, Hill Women’s Federation and Hill Youth Forum are expected to attend the launching ceremony. The office structure has already been set up and all preparations are on to make the programme a success. But all on a sudden army commander Ekramul Yasin today asked UPDF activists Bipulaksh Chakma and Amrita Chakma to pull down the sign board and not to open the office.
[Press Section, Publicity and Publication Department, United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF). Issued June 08, 2004]