Hill Voice, 20 September 2025, Special Report: Today marks one year since the communal attack in Rangamati town area by Bengali settlers on Jumma students and youth who were protesting against the horrific communal attacks on Jummas and killings in Dighinala and Khagrachari town areas, and the subsequent brutal killing of Anik Chakma, as well as the attacks, arson and looting of various Jumma settlements, establishments, businesses and Buddhist monasteries, including the regional council office.

In the attack, in addition to the killing of Anik Chakma, at least a hundred Jummas were injured, and 24 Jumma houses and businesses were set on fire and looted, and a traditional Buddhist monastery was looted and vandalized. Property worth at least Tk 5 crore was damaged. On the other hand, the Bengali settlers attacked the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council office and rest house and set ablaze 1 pickup, 5 Pajeros, 2 private cars, 5 motorcycles of the Regional Council and 1 Pajero and 1 pickup of the Development Board. Property worth at least Tk 3-4 crore was damaged.

That day, Bengali settlers brutally murdered Anik Chakma, a 1st year Higher Secondary student of Karnaphuli Government Degree College in Kaptai, on Kalindipur Road adjacent to New Market, by hitting him on the head and body with bricks and sticks. The video of the murder was widely circulated on social media at the time. Many of the attackers were clearly visible.

At least 3 cases are known to have been filed in connection with the attacks. The first case was filed by Adar Sen Chakma, the father of the victim Anik Chakma, on 21 September 2024, which is case number 7 of the Kotwali Police Station in Rangamati; the second case was filed by the police on 22 September 2024, which is case number 8 of the Kotwali Police Station, and the third case was filed by Mujibur Rahman on behalf of the Regional Council on 2 October 2024, which is case number 1 of the Kotwali Police Station in Rangamati. In addition, Anik Chakma’s mother Tara Sundari Chakma is also known to have filed a case.

According to information from the daily Samakal, seven people were arrested in two phases after the incident. However, it is known that two of them were released on bail long ago due to lack of evidence.

The latest five people have been arrested. The arrested are Md. Rubel (23), Md. Jalal (27) and Arbar (17), accused in the Anik Chakma murder case, and Rakib (27) and Ariful (17), accused in the arson and vandalism case. Police sources said that Md. Rubel, one of the three accused in the Anik Chakma murder case, has already given a confessional statement.

Among those arrested, Arbar (17), an accused in the murder case, and Rakib (17), an accused in arson and vandalism cases, were reportedly transferred from prison as minors long ago and sent to the National Juvenile Development Institution.

Recently, Rangamati Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shahed Uddin mentioned in several media outlets that so far 5 people have been arrested and sent to jail. Investigation work is ongoing.

However, a source said that all but one of them have been released on bail.

Although the names of 2000 to 3000 people are mentioned in the cases as the perpetrators of the attacks, only 5 people have been arrested so far. Moreover, most of the real perpetrators remain beyond the reach of punishment. It is reported that the police are not taking any steps to identify and arrest them.

It is worth mentioning that indigenous Jumma students and youth took out a procession under the banner of the Pahari Student Movement against Conflict and Discrimination in Rangamati District Headquarters on September 20, 2024, in protest against the horrific communal attacks on Jummas in Khagrachhari’s Dighinala Upazila and Khagrachhari Sadar, by Bengali settlers with the help of the army on September 19, 2024, and one point, a clash with Bengali settlers began. At a stage, the Bengali settlers attacked on Jummas, Jumma houses, business establishments and Buddhist monastery located from the Banarupa area to Happy Mor, South Kalindipur, Regional Council Building and Rest House, Bijan Sarani area.