Bangladesh: Hundreds of Chakma community houses torched by settlers

Guwahati: Rights groups, the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) claimed that over 100 houses and shops of the indigenous people belonging to the Chakma community were burnt down at Boalkhali, Dighinala Sadar, Khagrachari district, Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) of Bangladesh by the illegal plain settlers on Thursday.

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.

“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. 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.”- stated Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG).


The body added, “From 1979 to 1983, then President General Ziaur Rahman had implanted about 5,00,000 illegal Muslim plain settlers to reduce indigenous peoples of the CHTs into a minority on their own land. The illegal plain settlers constitute more than 50% of the total populations in the CHTs”.

“The indigenous students under the banner of the “Sanghat O Boishamyo Birodhi Parahari Chhatra Andolan” on Wednesday 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.” – stated Chakma.

“This burning down of the shops and houses of the Chakmas and no safety and security from the Yunus government will be brought before the United Nations human rights mechanisms,” also added Chakma.