Gangabari calm, CCCI chief urges all to show patience

Our Correspondent CHITTAGONG, Oct 12: Trade body leaders in Chittagong have noted the Tuesday night's situation in Gangabari area in port city as a 'matter of grave concern' and asked all concerned to have patience for the sake of communal harmony in the society. In a statement to the press Morshed Murad Ibrahim, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) on behalf of all directors and members of the trade body said vested quarters will try to create anarchy in the society to destroy the harmony among different communities. "All citizens of Chittagong irrespective of caste, creed and religion should keep alert against such heinous acts to attain overall development of the country under the leadership of the present democratic government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina", he said in the statement. He also urged the district and police administration to take proper steps so that no such untoward incidents can take place further. At least 15 people including two journalists were injured and some houses and shops vandalized over a clash between two groups of the local people over a trifling matter in Gangabari area of Patharghata under Kotwali police station in the city on the night of Laksmi Puja yesterday. Rumours and tension mounted at around 11 pm in the area but Chittagong Metropolitan Police authority deployed riot police that stopped further deterioration of the situation. Deputy Commissioner Foyez Ahmed, CMP Commissioner Abul Kashem, president of the ruling party Awami League Chittagong city committee and former city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury visited the area and asked all to show maximum tolerance. The situation remained quite normal since Wednesday morning. Local political leaders said they would sit together to come to an amicable understanding between the conflicting groups as soon as possible.