Photo: Collected

Executive Summary:

The hill district of Khagrachari in Southeastern Bangladesh has been engulfed in violent unrest since September 23, 2025, triggered by the alleged rape of a 12-year-old Marma schoolgirl. The incident, reportedly perpetrated by three Bengali settlers, sparked immediate and widespread protests led by indigenous student and youth organizations, collectively under the banner of Jumma Chhatra Janata (Jumma Students and People). The situation escalated dramatically on 28 September when  the protest action, which included a district-wide blockade (Hartal), tragically culminated in deadly clashes in the Guimara Upazila under Khagrachari hill district on September 28, resulting in the reported killing of at least three indigenous individuals. The situation underscores the extreme volatility in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), where sexual violence often acts as a flashpoint for deeper ethnic and land-related conflicts.

Chronology of Events:

Triggering incident and Initial Protests:

The immediate trigger for the current crisis occurred in September 23, 2025, when a 12-year-old schoolgirl from the Marma indigenous community was allegedly raped by three Bengali youths while returning home from private tuition in the Singinala area of Khagrachari at approximately between 9 pm to 11 pm. The victim’s father filled a case with the Khagrachari Sadar Police station the following day against three unidentified men. It was reported that, Police, with military assistant, arrested one suspect, Shoyon Sheel, on September 24, and a court subsequently granted a five-day remand for his interrogation. Despite this arrest, protesters declared rally and demonstration program in the district headquarters to arrest rest of the accused.

On 24 September 2025:

At 10 am on 24 September 2025, a protest organized under the banner of Jumma Chhatra-Janata at Shapla Chattar in the city demanding the arrest of the culprits within 24 hours. They also announced to hold a half-day road blockade program in the district on 25 September 2025, Thursday if the accused are not arrested.

On 25 September 2025:

Jumma Chhatra-Janata hold a blockade program on 25 September 2025, Thursday demanding justice for the gang-rape of the Marma girl in Khagrachari District.Protests also took place in two other hill districts namely Rangamati and Bandarban. Protest programs were held at Dhaka University and Shahbagh areas as well.
Ukyanu Marma, General Secretary of Bangladesh Marma Student Council (BMSC), Khagrachari Branch announced a mass-gathering to be held on 26 September 2025 at Khagrachari District through the Facebook page of Jumma Chhatra-Janata on 25 September 2025.

Detention of Ukyanu Marma:

On September 25, 2025, at around 8:30 pm, Ukyanu Marma was forcibly taken away by a team of security personnel from a shop at Madhupur Bazar, in Khagrachari District.  It is reported that a group of security personnel arrived in two vehicles there and took Ukyanu away. Later it was learnt that he was taken to the cantonment.

At that time, the incident created widespread outrage on social media. At one point, due to widespread public outrage, the security forces were forced to release him at around 10 pm on the same night.

26 September: Mass gathering and protest

Jumma Chatra Janata Protests and Blockade

• Rallies and Demonstrations: Mass gathering and protest rallies were held across the district, including in Khagrachhari Sadar. The primary demands were justice for the victim and an end to the culture of impunity for perpetrators of violence against indigenous people. From this rally the organisers declared a district-wide blockade (Hartal) of roads and transport. It effectively paralyzed normal life and movement in Khagrachori district. This was done to pressure the local administration to take swift and decisive action against the accused.

 On 27 September 2025 During the Road Blockade:

In support of the blockade, picketing had been reported on regional highways in Ramgarh, Manikchhari, and Guimara upazilas in Khagrachari district. During the blockade, the protesters set tyres on fire and erected barriers at several key points, including the entrance to Khagrachari town in Chengi Bridge Union Parishad, Chengi Square, and Narayan Khaiya. Internal routes in Dighinala, Mahalchhari, and Panchhari were blocked using tree trunks, bricks, and burning tyres on 27 September 2025. During the blockade, it was reported that there were clash between protesters and Bengali settlers in different places of the district. As a result, at one stage, the administration imposed Section 144 in the khagrachari municipality and sadar upazila in order to keep the law and order under control.  

Attack on the indigenous peoples during peaceful road blockade:

It is learnt that after imposing Section 144 at 2pm, a group of Bengali settlers attacked Mahajan Para in Khagrachari Sadar with sharp weapons, spikes and metal bullets at around 4 pm. During this time, there was a chase and counter-chase between the Bengali settlers and indigenous peoples of Mahajan Para for several hours. During this time, the Bengali settlers attacked and vandalized an ambulance, and later they spread the word on social media that the indigenous Jumma peoples had attacked and vandalized it.

Despite the imposition of Section 144, around 7 pm, two more groups of Bengali settlers attacked in the Ganjpara village, which is inhabited by indigenous Jumma peoples, and in the area adjacent to the Young Buddhist Monastery in the Khagrachari Bazar area.

During this time, Kumiya Tripura and Kangsai Marma alias Mongsaong Marma were seriously injured in the Yongd Bouddha Vihar area. Later, they were admitted to Khagrachari Sadar Hospital in serious condition.

Escalation and Fatalities in Guimara (September 28, 2025)

The most serious violence occurred on September 28, 2025, in the Guimara Upazila during the protest and blockade period:

• Clashes: Reports indicate that violent clashes erupted in Guimara as the blockade was enforced or encountered resistance. According to the local sources, around 11:30 am, security forces arrived and questioned protesters about continuing the blockade despite the arrest of a suspect. An altercation ensued, followed by heavy gunfire.
• Casualties: It has been reported that at least three indigenous men shot dead and brought to Khagrachari Sadar Hospital around 5:30 pm. The deceased are: 1. Akhrau Marma (22), father-Hasu Marma, Mother-Krasung Marma; Village-Chenguli Para, Ward No.5, Hafchari Union, Guimara; 2. Teiching Marma (20), father-Alakai Marma, Mother-Danuprue Marma, Village-Ramsu Bazar, Battala, Ward No.4, Hafchari Union, Guimara and 3. Athuiprue Marma (21), father-Thuhla Aung Marma, Mother-Pratima Marma, Village-Debalchari, Chairman Para, Sindukchari Union, current address-Amatali Para, Ward No.5, Hafchari Union, Guimara. According to an official statement of security forces also suffered significant injuries. The local sources said, eleven injured people were also brought to the same hospital, though the full extent of injuries among protesters remain unclear. The injured are: 1. Kongjasai Marma (30), village-Amtali, Guimara; 2. Athuiprue Marma (45), village-Guimara; 3. Kyazai Marma (25), village-Guimara; 4. Aung Marma (27), village-Baraitali, Guimara; 5. Jewel Chakma (27), Pathachara, Guimara; 6. Kyangchaihla Marma (45), village-Guimara; 7. Chinkyu Marma (25), village-Natunpara, Guimara; 8. Sachingnue Marma (24), village-Battala, Guimara; 9. Aungching Marma (23), address-Ramsu Bazar; 10. Bikash Tripura (23), village-Kumendra Karbari Para, Guimara.

• Property Destruction: The violence included extensive property destruction, particularly in the Ramesu Bazar Area of Guimara. According to the local sources, approximately 100 shops, houses and vehicles were looted and set fire, most of which belonged to indigenous peoples.

Stakeholder Responses and Positions

Government

Ministry of Home Affairs: The Ministry expressed “deep sorrow” over the incident and assured that “legal action will be taken against those involved in this incident after an investigation very soon.” The Ministry emphasized that “no culprit will be spared” and urged “all concerned to remain patient and calm”.

Indigenous Peoples Organizations and Platforms:

Different Indigenous Peoples organizations and platforms, including youth and students organizations protested in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rangamati, Bandarban in response of the rape incident and killing and arson attack in Guimara. They all demanded punishment of the rape incident and impartial investigation of the attack and killing.

Civil Society and Political Organization:

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB): Expressed “strong outrage and condemnation over the extensive violence and reported multiple deaths” and questioned “what crime exists in the indigenous community’s legitimate demand for justice.” TIB’s Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that “attempts to normalize the rape of indigenous women are not new” and the failure to respond represented “indifference or complicitly towards the destructive conspiracies of vested interests”.

Political Parties: The Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Ganosomhati Andolon, Left Democratic Alliance, Socialist Students’ Front, Bangladesh Youth Union, Bangladesh Mohila Porishod, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, and numerous feminist groups issued statement expressing concern over the violent situation in Khagrachari and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the rape  and subsequent attacks.