New Delhi, Sep 24: Hundreds of the Chakmas held a protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on Tuesday against the “organised attacks” on the Indigenous hill tribes on September 19 by “illegal plain settlers and the Bangladesh Army personnel” in which at least five were killed, over 70 were injured and about 200 houses and business establishments were set on fire.
At present, indigenous hill people have been facing isolated and sporadic acts of racial discrimination and acts of violence because of their physical appearance in plain districts of Bangladesh, especially in Chittagong, Dhaka and Savar areas in the outskirts of Dhaka where a large number of indigenous peoples work in the Export Processing Zones. It has become impossible for the indigenous peoples to go out in the plain areas.
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“The Government of Bangladesh has not conducted any inquiry into these gross human rights violations. Dr Mohammed Yunus disgracefully sought to blame their affiliation with the Awami League for the attacks on the Hindus as if political affiliation with any political party can justify such organised attacks on the Hindu and other religious minorities,” said Santosh Baburah Chakma, president of the Noida Chakma Welfare and Cultural Society.
