Hill Voice, 30 September 2025, International Desk: CHT* Indigenous Peoples’ Council of Canada (CHTIPCC) submits memorandam to Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Peter N. Due, Director of Asia and the Pacific Division of Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operation got asking the Interim Government of Bangladesh to investigate the incident properly, punish the culprits and compensate the injured persons as medical expenses, compensate the raped victim and rehabilitate properly.
This letter was sent to the UN mandate holders yesterday, September 29, 2025, by Preeti B. Chakma, President of the CHTIPCC.
The memorandum also called on the High Commissioner for Human Rights to put pressure on the Bangladesh government to implement the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord (CHT Accord) fully that includes removal of military camps, transfer of power of administration, Land Commission functioning, etc. and relocate the Bengali settlers outside of the CHT.
On the other hand, in a separate memorandum, the UN peacekeeping mission was called upon to stop recruiting Bangladesh military completely in the Peacekeeping Mission until they come forward to help in restoring peace in the CHT and to ask the Interim Bangladesh government to close all military camps in the CHT and implement the CHT Accord fully for the Indigenous peoples’ aspiration.
The letters mentioned that a Marma Indigenous girl of grade 8 who went to take private tuition from a teacher in the evening on September 23, 2025, was gang-raped by three Bengali youths. The Indigenous Jummo people organized a protest rally against the rape incident, demanded the arrest of other two rapists and justice for the raped victim in Khagrachari town on September 27, 2025 where a huge gathering took place. The rally was peaceful in the morning. But in the afternoon, the Bengali settlers went to attack the Indigenous localities and so was the attack and counter attack from both sides. It has been learnt that the military was behind the Bengali attacking group when such attack was going on.
The authority considering the grave situation ahead imposed the section 144 in the afternoon. But once the restriction from coming out of the house was imposed, the settlers with the backing of the military got a good chance to hit the Indigenous peoples inhabited areas like Narankhya and Mohajan para. Though the Indigenous peoples tried to protect themselves, the settlers advanced with throwing brick pieces and using slingshots when the military were behind them. As a result, at least three Indigenous persons were seriously injured and these three injured Rikan Chakma alias Barize (29), Kumia Tripura (25) and Kongsai Marma alias Mongsa Aung (22).
The incident happened on September 28, 2025. Guimara is just a small township and 30 kms away from Khagrachari municipality in the same district. The township is surrounded by the Indigenous villages. The Indigenous peoples organized a peaceful road blockade there too against the minor’s rape. It was unfortunate for them that while doing so, they were attacked by the Bengali settlers and the military. The military fired bullets indiscriminately. Report received so far shows that the settlers in collaboration with the military killed at least 3 Indigenous persons, injured 15, set fire on 15 houses, 60 shops and 13 motorbikes. They also looted 7 shops. It has been learnt that 5 persons are still missing. The three deceased are Akhrau Marma (22), Teiching Marma (20) and Athuiprue Marma (21).
The memorandum also mentioned that Bangladesh military participated in the settlers’ communal attack instead of providing help to the administration to nab the rapists. In fact, these militaries’ negative roles are the main causes that human rights violations go on recurrently in the CHT.
