Attack on Indigenous Peoples in CHT: 4 killed, several injured
Photo: Collected
It is alleged that, Bengali settlers carried out communal attack on the indigenous peoples in Khagrachari and Rangamati District on 19 and 20 September 2024 respectively. In these two different attacks 1 person was killed, 54 injured and 19 were admitted at Rangamati General Hospital[1] in Rangamati District on 20 September 2024 while 1 person was killed by the attack of Bengali settlers in Dighinala Upazila, 2 were killed in Naranghia-Swonirvor area of Khagrachari Sadar and 9 were seriously injured by the indiscriminate firing of security forces in Khagrachari District. During the attacks the Bengali settlers burnt, looted several homes, business properties belongings to Indigenous Jumma peoples.
18 September 2024
The violence first erupted following an incident on 18 September 2024 when a Bengali settler was caught by a mob while attempting to steal a motorbike in the Nowapara area of Khagrachari Sadar. Abdul Baten Mridha, the Officer in Charge of Khagrachari Police Station, told The Daily Jugantor that the man died after hitting an electric pole while trying to flee[2] with the stolen motorbike. Local sources informed that, the individual, reportedly beaten by the mob after hitting the electric pole, later died. The local police station reported that the deceased had 14 theft charges and 2 narcotics cases filed against him at the police station[3].
19 September 2024 in Dighinala and Khagrachari
After hearing the death of the deceased Bengali persons, the Bengali settlers started blaming the Indigenous Jumma community and on 19 September 2024 launched protest processions in Dighinala at around 4 pm. At one point, the Bengali settlers started indiscriminately attacking Jumma individuals and setting fire to their homes and businesses in the Dighinala Station area.[4] According to media report, more than hundred houses and business establishments adjacent to Larma Square of Dighinala mainly belonging to Indigenous Peoples came under arson attack. It is also reported that at least one was killed and 3 indigenous Chakma men were attacked and seriously injured during the incident.
On the same day at night, a group of Jumma students and youth blocked the Khagrachari-Panchari road at Swanirvor area and Narankheya area points to protest the Dighinala attack. At around 9 pm several groups of military appeared there. This creates tension and altercations between the two. There is an allegation that, at one point, the army opened fire there. This caused the death of two indigenous youths and at least 9 injured. Among the injured, 4 critically injured were referred to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
The deceased of 19 September 2024 incidents in Dighilana and Khagrachari were identified – (1) Dhananjoy Chakma (50) from Udol Bagan of Dighinala Upazila, (2) Junan Chakma (22) son of Ruapayn Chakma from Dharmapur area of Perachara village of Khagrachari Sadar and (3) Rubel Tripura (24) son of Garjan Muni Tripura from Paltan Joy Para of Perachara village of Khagrachair Sadar Upazila.
20 September 2024 in Rangamati
On the other hand, several people were injured by the attack of Bengali settlers in Rangamati on 20 September 2024. The attack started when the Indigenous Jumma students in Rangamati brought out protest rally under the banner of Hill Student Movement Against Conflict and Discrimination following the incident on 19 September 20204 in Dighinala Upazila and Khagrachari Sadar. The Bengali settlers suddenly started attacking the protest rally. Later, the violence escalated throughout the city in different areas leading attack on Indigenous Peoples, burning their businesses, houses and destroying their properties. Witnesses in Rangamati town reported that several establishments belonging to Indigenous Peoples in Kalindipur, Bijon Sarani, Dewan Para, Tridip Nagar, and Banarupa were torched by the settlers. The office of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council (CHTRC) was vandalized and set on fire by the Bengali settlers during the attack. Besides that, a Buddhist Temple namely Moitri Bihara situated in Kathaltoli of Rangamati Sadar area was attacked and looted during the chaos.
A Jumma student named Anik Kumar Chakma (22) from Noadam, Dhanpata under Ranagamati Sadar Upazila, was killed by the Bengali settlers near the New Market area.
The full extent of the property damaged has yet to be determined. On 20 September 2024 afternoon the local administration imposed section 144 in Rangamati and Khagrachari District to bring the situation under control.
Protest against the killing and attack on indigenous peoples in CHT
Following the incidents in Khagrachari and Rangamati, different organization and platforms staged protest rally in different places of the country.
In Chittagong: On 20 September Indigenous People staged a demonstration at Cheragi Pahar intersection in Chittagong city protesting the attacks on their communities in Khagrachari. Several hundred people attended the rally. The speakers of the rally said since the criminals were not punished earlier in such cases in the CHT, these sorts of incidents are happening repeatedly. They demanded exemplary punishment of the perpetrators.
In Dhaka: Thousands of people belonging to indigenous communities staged demonstration at Dhaka University campus against the attack and killing in Dighinala and Khagrachari on 20 September 2024. The speakers demanded impartial investigation of the incident and punished the culprits. At the same time, they also demanded withdraw military rule from the CHT and immediate implementation of the CHT Accord 1997. Later, the protesters blocked the Shahbagh intersection at around 11:45 am and staged a half-hour sit-in.
On 21 September 2024 the Indigenous Students, Youth and General Public of Plain Land organized a protest rally and demonstration at TSC, Dhaka University. The speakers demanded the immediate arrest of the perpetrators, implementation of CHT Accord 1997, provide compensation, medical support to the victims and affected families, and security to the public properties in three hill districts and to conduct investigation by forming an investigation committee under United Nations and publish the report publicly from the protest rally and procession. More than 500 Indigenous Peoples from different Indigenous Communities from Plain Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts were present.
At Jahangirnagar University (JU): On 20 September 2024the Indigenous students of JU blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway in protest of Dighinala and Khagrachari incidents at around 4:20 pm. Before that, they organised a student march that paraded in the campus.
In Rajshahi University (RU): In Rajshahi, several hundred indigenous students from RU and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology gathered on Paris Road at RU to protest the attacks.
Initiative from the Government:
Chief Adviser’s office issues a statement on 20 September asking all the citizens in Chittagong Hill Tracts to stay calm and maintain peace in the region. The statement also mentioned the government is working on this issue and assured that all the perpetrators behind all these incidents must be punished.
On 21 September 2024 a high-level government delegation headed by the adviser of the Ministry of Home Affairs Lieutenant General (Retired) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury visited Rangamati and Khagrachari. Other members of the delegation were – CHT Ministry adviser Supradip Chakma, Land and Local Government Ministry adviser AF Hasan Arif. The delegation visited Rangamati and Khagrachari hill district respectively. They had meeting with local political leaders, traditional leaders, eminent personalities, representatives from business and trade bodies, media outlets, law enforcement agencies, CHT Regional Council and government officials.
The advisers ask all parties to maintain harmony and peace in the hills and requested leaders to play their due role in this regard. Law enforcement agencies have been asked to show maximum restraint. The delegation assured in both district that a high-level probe body comprising some senior officials will be formed to investigate the recent violence.
As of now, law enforcement agencies are not known to have arrested any of the perpetrators involved with the attacks and killings.
[1] Rangamati General Hospital
[2] https://www.jugantor.com/country-news/853823
[3] Ibid
[4] https://www.syllad.com/100-shops-houses-of-chakmas-torched-in-chts-in-bangladesh/
