‘Unite against rape, restore peace in the hills’

In the wake of growing tensions in Khagrachari following the rape of an indigenous schoolgirl -- an incident that tragically left three dead on Sunday in its aftermath -- prominent athletes from the Chittagong Hill Tracts have taken to social media to condemn the violence and call for justice and unity.

Women's team footballers Rupna Chakma and Monika Chakma, men's team's goalkeeper Mitul Marma and boxer Suro Krishna Chakma, among others, voiced their concern over the increasing number of rapes and urged for peace to return to the hills.

Women's team goalkeeper footballer Rupna expressed her deep disappointment over the incident, questioning the safety of women in Bangladesh and urging collective action against rape. "Speaking in favour of rapists is, in itself, a form of complicity," she wrote. "We are all citizens of Bangladesh... All I want is a peaceful and just Bangladesh -- for me and for all of us."

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Her teammate, midfield maestro Monika, called for an end to the unrest and a return to harmony. "These hills belong to you, me, and all of us. Let's protect the peace of the hills and put an end to all this," she urged.

Men's team goalkeeper Mitul highlighted the growing culture of impunity, stating, "It's not just the hills -- the entire nation must stand against rape, violence, and injustice. Now is the time to resist, raise awareness, and ensure justice for victims."

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Meanwhile, acclaimed boxer Suro Krishna echoed the demand for justice and administrative accountability. "There must be a declaration of zero tolerance against rape in the hills," he said, warning that failure to act could force local communities to take matters into their own hands.