The CHT Monitor
A Monthly Report by Humanity Protection Forum on Human Rights Situation
in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh
Edited By:
Dr. Gautam Chakma, chairman, HPF, Tripura, India
Reports on Human Rights Situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
For the month of
November 2023
Issued on: December 1, 2023
SUMMARY
In November, the army carried out searches, ripped down posters pasted by Jumma activists and ordered chairmen and members of Union Councils to be present at events marking the 26th anniversary of the Chittagong Hill Tracts accord.
In one incident, soldiers went out for hunting, and when they shot at some birds they missed the targets and hit a solar panel of a villager, causing damage to it.
Vigilante violence continues to be reported, with three villagers kidnapped. One of them was shot before being taken away from his home. He is presumably killed later.
A girl student of sixth grade was reportedly subjected to a sexual assault by a Bengali day labourer, who was caught in action, but was snatched away by his fellow Bengali settlers. No legal action has been taken against them.
An activist of the Jana Samhati Samiti (Santu Larma) was arrested by police in Rangamati town. The police claim that he is a member of an armed group sponsored by JSS.
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- Army search two houses in Babuchara
On 5 November, a group of 50 – 60 army personnel from Dighinala zone entered the village of Noonchari under Babuchara Union in Khagrahcari district and searched two houses, turning them upside down and inside out.
The houses belong to Suranjit Chakma and Bidhan Chakma. No reasons were cited for the search. The soldiers also destroyed the bamboo fence of Suranjit Chakma, which he had erected around his farm land.
Local villagers said since November 3 the army had been patrolling Chadarachara, Beltoli, Dipipara and Noonchari areas of Babuchara Union as part of a training.
It is not known if the searches had been carried out as part of the training.
- Army shoots at birds, misses targets and hit villager’s solar panel
On 25 November, soldiers from Korengatoli army camp shot at some birds, but missed them. They instead hit a house and a solar panel of a villager in C-Block under Bongoltoli Union in Baghaichari Upazila, Rangamati district.
The army soldiers often hunt birds in the area, according to the villagers, violating Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 (No. XXX)
According to section 38 of this Act, any person guilty of killing any bird listed in schedule 1 and 2 shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with a fine which may extend to taka 100,000 or with both.
The man whose house and solar panel were damaged has been identified as Dibos Chakma, 40, son of Samiron Chakma. No compensation has been paid to him, nor have the delinquent soldiers been puinished.
- Army rips down anti-collaborator posters in Guimara and Kaokhali
On 23 November, a group of army men from Matiranga zone went to Ballyachari and Toimatai Rubber garden area in Matiranga of Khagrachari district and ripped down hand-written posters against collaborators.
Another group of the army from Guimara Brigade did the same in Rameshu Bazar and Amtoli area.
The posters were put up by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Students and Youth Solidarity Organization against collaborators of the so-called national parties such as the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party).
On 26 November, a group of army men from Kaokhali zone went to Panchari and Debachari and took down anti-collaborator posters.
- Army asks UP chairmen, Members to attend treaty founding anniversary events
On 28 November, an army officer from Naniachar zone in Rangamati district ordered the chairmen and members of Union Councils to attend an event marking 26 years since the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts accord.
Warrant Officer Monu Mian phoned several elected public representatives in Naniachar and asked them to be present at the program. (The phone number he used is 01635074466).
He also told them that they must send any one in their places if they are unable to attend due to some other preoccupation on that day.
Similar requests or orders were also made by Baghaichari zone in Sajek.
- VIGILANTE VIOLENCE
- Vigilantes ramp up activities after rally against sexual violence in Manikchari
The army-backed vigilantes ramped up their criminal activities following a mass rally against sexual violence organized by three Jumma women organizations – the Hill Women’s Federation, Nari Sangha and Nari Attwa Raksha Committee (Women Self-defence Committee) on November 09 in Manikchari, Khagrachari district.
At 7 pm, on the same day, seven armed vigilantes, among whom were Rabin Chakma, Ramzan Ali, Ful Mian and Shahidul, raided Bholachola village and looked for those who had joined the rally.
Near Mompru High School, they also stopped a jeep belonging to Entas Mian, 35, son of Dudu Mian from Bholachola and snatched Taka 10,000 from him.
On the night of 10 November, the vigilantes paraded Kumari Para village brandishing automatic weapons, creating panic among the villagers.
Among the Bengali members of the vigilante group, Ramzan Ali, Ful Mian and Shahidul come from Bot-toli para in Fatikchari Upazila, a neighbouring area of the CHT. They joined the predominantly Jumma vigilante group a few months ago.
Some other Bengali persons were also seen among them, but the local people could not recognize them. They were believed to be members of the intelligence agencies of the army.
This vigilante group is patronized and controlled by the office of the Laxmichari zonal headquarters of the army through Rabin Chakma, who keeps regular contacts with an army commander there.
- One shot and kidnapped in Dighinala
On 23 November, the army-backed vigilantes shot Bindu Chakma, 45, at his home in Dighinala Upazila of Khagrachari district, and then took him to an unknown place.
The incident happened at 8 pm in Reserve-chara village under Kobakhali Union, about one kilometer from Dighinala army zone headquarters.
‘The vigilantes asked us to open the door, and when Bindu Chakma opened the door, they shot him, wounding him seriously.’ his wife Maloni Chakma, 36, told a news organization and added that the vigilantes prevented her from taking him to hospital for treatment.
They took the victim to an unknown location and have not returned him to his family. It is believed that they let him die without treatment and buried him somewhere.
Six vigilantes took part in the attack, according to eyewitnesses.
- Two villagers kidnapped in Mahalchari
On 24 November, an army-backed vigilante group kidnapped two villagers from Dadkuppya village under Kiang-ghat Union of Mahalchari Upazila in Khagrachari district.
The abductees have been identified as Mukul Bikash Chakma, 40, son of late Kamini Mohan Chakma and Anil Chakma, 55.
According to a news website, on 24 November, Friday, at 7 pm, a group of seven vigilantes led by Utpal Chakma first raided Mukul Bikash Chakma’s home and took him away at gun point.
They then went to the house of Anil Chakma and picked him up as well.
The vigilantes asked their family members not to inform anyone about the incident.
The next morning the village elders went to meet the leaders of the Reformist faction of JSS, who denied their involvement in the kidnapping.
As of the time of release of this report, none of the abductees has been set free.
- SEXUAL VIOLENCE
Girl student subjected to attempted rape in Ramgarh
On 4 November, a Bengali day labourer reportedly made an attempt to rape a sixth grade student in Ramgarh Upazila of Khagrachari district.
The perpetrator, Rupon, is a resident of Jagannut Para in Ramgarh Sadar Upazila and is employed as a labourer by local government administration to build houses under the “Pahari Guchchagram” (Hill people’s cluster village) project in Antu-para.
Rupon works under direct supervision of Babul Mishtri, the mechanic, and is temporarily staying in Roila Marma’s house.
On the day of incident, at 1 a.m., Rupon tip-toed into the victim’s house, about 300 yards from where he is staying and tried to rape her.
As she screamed, her elder brother and sister-in-law woke up and caught Rupon red handed.
The next morning, in order to settle the matter, Amit Marma, the local Union Parishad member, informed the village elders of Jagannut para and the concerned UP member (Ward No. 2) about the incident.
But at 8 am, a group of Bengali people went to where Rupon was kept and snatched him away from the custody of Amit Marma.
When the Jumma villagers tried to resist, the Bengalis beat them up with wood sticks, injuring three of them – Mong Hla Ching Marma, Ching Thoi Mong Marma and Ai-eun Marma.
- ARRESTS
JSS activist arrested in Rangamati
On 13 November, Shanti Moy Chakma aka Shyamol, 47, a member of the Jana Samhati Samiti (Santu) was arrested by police from K. K. Roy Road in Rangamati town.
The police claimed him to be a commander of an armed group and an arms procurer of JSS, which signed a peace agreement with the government of Bangladesh in 1997. However, JSS denied the allegation.
Shanti Moy Chakma is a resident of Sarbotoli village in Baghaichari Upazila in Rangamati district.
