Chakma houses, shops burnt in Chittagong Hill Tracts

Shillong, Sep 19: Illegal settlers of the plains area burnt down over 100 houses and shops of the indigenous people belonging to the Chakma community at Boalkhali in Khagrachari district of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) in Bangladesh on Monday, according to a Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) statement.

The Bangladesh Army personnel who are stationed nearby at the Dighinala Cantonment did not intervene and rather provided support to the illegal plain settlers to carry out the arson, the statement claimed.

“Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, lawlessness prevailed in the country. Chief Advisor Mohammed Yunus authorized the Bangladesh Army with magisterial power on 17 September 2024 but the same Bangladesh Army supported the burning down of the Chakma shops and houses at Dighinala Sadar today. Consequently, there is no Chakma left in the Dighinala sadar area. We are still waiting for details of casualties or other violence at this stage,” RRAG director Suhas Chakma said.

“The indigenous students under the banner of the Sanghat O Boishamyo Birodhi Parahari Chhatra Andolan yesterday (on Sunday) organised ‘March For Identity’ at Khagrachari demanding recognition of their rights and guarantee for distinct identities. About 40,000 tribals, unseen in the history of the indigenous peoples, had participated in the march. Today’s attack on the Chakma tribes is a response to this march,” the director added.

RRAG will present this issue before the United Nations human rights mechanisms.