The district administration has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure indefinitely in Khagrachari to maintain public order amid ongoing road blockades organised by Jumma students protesting the alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl in Singinala.

In a press release issued on Saturday afternoon, Khagrachari Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate ABM Iftekharul Islam Khandaker stated that the order came into effect at 2:00pm and will remain in force until further notice.

The measure aims to prevent potential sabotage and unrest linked to morning and evening blockades called by student groups demanding the arrest of all individuals involved in the assault.

The press release cited a serious risk of deterioration in law and order, as well as threats to public safety and property, as the primary reasons for invoking Section 144.

It also warned that legal action will be taken against anyone found violating the order.

The blockades, organised under the banner of "Jumma Chhatra-Janta," have brought normal life in the hill district to a standstill.

Several hundred of tourists remain stranded in the popular hill resort of Sajek, with roads blocked by burning tyres and felled tree trunks across multiple locations.

The protests follow an incident on the night of Tuesday, September 23, when a teenage girl was allegedly gang-raped while returning home from a private school in Singinala. Her relatives reportedly found her unconscious in a field around 11:00pm and rushed her to safety. Police have since arrested a 19-year-old suspect, Shayan Shil, in connection with the case.

Authorities are urging protestors to refrain from violence and unlawful assembly while assuring that the investigation is ongoing and further arrests will be made if warranted.