Hill Voice, 12 July 2025, Rajshahi: On 11 July 2025, the closing ceremony of the “Martyr Student Leader Ananda Tanchangya Memorial Football Tournament-2025” was held. The tournament was organized by the Rajshahi Metropolitan Branch of the Chittagong Hill tracts Hill Students’ Council (PCP) with the aim of strengthening mutual brotherhood among indigenous students from the hills and plains studying at Rajshahi University (RU) and RUET.
Present at the event were Jagadish Chakma, Vice President of the Central Committee and President of the Dhaka Metropolitan Branch of PCP, and Reng Yong Mro, also a Vice President of the Central Committee of PCP. The event was also attended by Prachurja Chakma, Secretary of Information, Publicity and Publications of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Branch of the PCP, along with senior university students Surendra Tanchangya, Divya Chakma, Arup Tripura, and other leaders.
In his speech, Reng Yong Mro congratulated the winning team. He said that sports are inherently competitive where one team wins and the other loses. Both teams demonstrated equal quality, but due to a slight weakness, the 2022–23 Team Konglak became the runners-up. However, there is ample opportunity for improvement in the future. He thanked the Rajshahi Metropolitan Branch of PCP and the organizing committee for successfully conducting the tournament. He concluded his speech by paying tribute to the martyred Ananda Tanchangya.
Senior student Arup Tripura said that if such events are organized every year, the relationship between the indigenous peoples of the hills and the plains will be strengthened, and overall, it will benefit us in working together on various initiatives.
Senior student Surendra Tanchangya expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the organizing committee and all the members of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Branch of the PCP who worked tirelessly to make the tournament a success. He further stated that such inclusion between the hill and plain communities would strengthen the bond among indigenous students from both regions studying at RU. He called upon all indigenous students from the hills and the plains residing on campus to come together to celebrate the upcoming International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9. He concluded his speech by paying tribute to martyr Ananda Tanchangya.
The event was conducted by Suman Chakma, General Secretary of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Branch of the PCP, and was presided over by Bijoy Chakma, President of the same branch.
The final match of the tournament was contested between Team Kairing, composed of indigenous students from the 2020–21 academic session, and Team Konglak from the 2022–23 session. Team Kairing emerged victorious by defeating Team Konglak with a score of 1–0.
Sujon Tudu was awarded the title of Top Scorer. Ignases Soren was named Best Goalkeeper. Roman Akka was honored as the Player of the Tournament, and Uhlachai Marma was recognized as the Most Promising Player.
It is worth mentioning that 15 years ago, on June 3, 2010, student leader Ananda Tanchangya was killed in a indiscriminate gunfire attack carried out by armed terrorists of the anti-CHT Accord group UPDF in the market area of Rajasthali Upazila, Rangamati Hill District. Ananda Tanchangya was a member of the PCP Rowangchari Thana Branch. In the morning of June 3, 2010, at around 8:15 AM, a group of 20 to 25 armed terrorists from the UPDF (Prasit faction) divided into 4 to 5 subgroups and launched a coordinated armed attack. They opened fire for 35 minutes on the offices, residential quarters of members of JSS, Jubo Samiti, and PCP and government rest houses located in the market area of Rajasthali Upazila. During this attack, PCP leader Ananda Tanchangya (22), S/O Ganesh Tanchangya and a resident of Wagga Para, Rowangchari Upazila, was shot in the back and died on the spot while he was out for breakfast near the market. At the time, he was engaged in organizational activities.
