Prime Minister’s Visit to CHT leaves no hope for indigenous people

On 11 October, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia paid a hasty visit to the CHT. During her visit, she inaugurated several development projects in the three hill districts -- Bandarban, Khagrachari and Rangamati.

The Prime Minister addressed two public meetings organized by her party (BNP=Bangladesh Nationalist Party) leaders in the region. While addressing the meetings she was thunderous in referring to a long list of development initiatives undertaken by her coalition government for the region. However, she did not utter even a single word on the core points of the 1997 CHT Accord -- such as land-disputes, “temporary military and para-military camps”, electoral rolls or voter list and so on -- which remain unimplemented and continue to plague the indigenous people till today. Begum Zia rather crookedly denied and insulted the distinct identity and history of the indigenous people by describing them simply “tribal”. She said, “All the Bengalis and tribals in the CHT are Bangladeshi citizens”-- a reflection of the integrationist policy of the Bangladeshi authorities towards the indigenous people and a counter to the indigenous people’s movement for survival of their distinct identity and culture in the Islamic state. Furthermore, she advised the indigenous people to live in “peace and harmony” with the Bengalis for “overall development” -- the Bengalis who were brought to the CHT as settlers from various plain districts of Bangladesh in violation of the CHT Regulation 1900 as part of the government design to cleanse the region ethnically -- the Bengalis who have been forcibly grabbing the land of hundreds of thousands of indigenous people and snatching away their livelihood with the help of the repressive Bangladeshi military regime placed in the region. She also urged both the indigenous and non-indigenous people (Bengali settlers) to work together in order to make the three hill districts an “attraction of national and international tourists”.

Her visit to CHT left the indigenous people with a sense of hopelessness. The Prime Minister speech should be understood as her party’s pre-election message to the indigenous people.

General election in Bangladesh is due to be held sometime in the early 2007. 

Meeting between Prime Minister and indigenous leaders held in Rangamati

The CHT Regional Council (CHTRC) Chairman and PCJSS President Joytirindra Bodhipriya Larma, Chakma Circle Chief Devasish Roy, Mong Circle Chief Paihla Prue Chowdhury and a representative of Bohmang Circle Chief Jimi Chowdhury met the visiting Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at Rangamati Circuit House in Rangamati. At the meeting, the Chairman of CHTRC extended thanks to the Prime Minister for her visit to the hill districts and urged her for speedy finalization of the rules of business of CHTRC and Hill District Councils (HDCs), setting up the Judge Court in the CHT, logistic support to the offices of the Circle Chiefs and Mouza Headmen, transfer of the subjects stated in the CHT Accord to the HDCs.

Jumma youth killed by UPDF armed cadres kill in Guimara

On 4 September, an innocent Jumma youth Nirmal Kanti Tripura (21) was shot dead by the so-called United People Democratic Front (UPDF) members led by Rigen Chakma and Jiginath Tripura in Guimara area. The UPDF armed cadres forced some local people to cremate the dead body of Tripura without informing the police. The reason for the killing of the indigenous youth was not known.

Bengali settlers molest and attempt to rape indigenous woman in Bandarban

On 7 October, nine Bengali settlers attempted to rape an indigenous woman Umeching Marma while she was returning home along with her husband Sa Aung Prue Marma after attending a religious function held at the Bandarban district headquarters. The miscreants attacked her husband and took her apart in a nearby forest. Hearing the shouts of the victims, local people rushed to the spot and rescued them. The miscreants attacked one of the rescuers Babul Marma resulting in injuries in his head. He was admitted to the Bandarban Sadar Hospital . Umeching Marma filed a case with Bandarban police station against the following persons involved in the incident.

• Mr. Kajal Das s/o Sadhan Das of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality
• Mr. Khairul Amin s/o Naru of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality
• Mr. Harun s/o Abdur Rahman of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality
• Md. Farid s/o Shamsu of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality
• Mr. Soleman s/o unknown of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality
• Mr. Syad Hossain s/o unknown of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality
• Mr. Jahangir s/o Makhan of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality
• Mr. Selim s/o unknown (tea shopkeeper) of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality
• Mr. Ledu s/o Abul Kalam of Islampur village of Bandanban municipality.

However, none of the accused has been arrested so far.

PCP’s welcome reception for new students held peacefully in Bandarban

On 10 September, the PCP (Pahari Chhatra Parishad = Hill Students Council) organized a welcome reception for new students peacefully at Bandarban Town Hall . Chingthoikhui Marma, President of the Bandarban Government College branch of PCP presided over the meeting. PCJSS President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma was invited as Chief Guest. Last year the so-called Sama Odhikar Andolan, an organization of the Muslim fundamentalists led by MP Mohammad Wadud Bhuiyan, threatened to obstruct the proposed visit of Mr. Larma to Bandarban with violence. However, amidst such threat Larma visited to hill district town without any violent incidents.

Eminent theatre activist Mamunur Rashid, General Secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum Sanjeeb Drong, Professor of Chittagong University Dr. Hamida Banu, PCJSS leaders Mr. K S Mong Marma and Sadhuram Tripura, and PCP leaders Mongsingneo Marma and Juli Mong Marma were, among others, who addressed the meeting.

More than two hundred new students both indigenous and non-indigenous attended the meeting.

Report complied on the basis of information received from sources in CHT.