Hill voice, 30 September 2025, Dhaka: Yesterday (29 September 2025) in a Press Release, Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) expresses deep concern over the recent incident of violence in Khagrachhari district, where three indigenous citizens were killed, several others seriously injured, and widespread arson attacks took place on homes and business establishments.

According to media reports, following the rape of a Marma schoolgirl, local youths launched protests, blockades, and strikes demanding the arrest of perpetrators and justice. In attempts to suppress these demonstrations, violence escalated, resulting in fatalities, injuries, and significant damage to property. Such incidents are inconsistent with the Constitution of Bangladesh-Article 27 (equality before law), Article 28(1) (non discrimination on grounds of religion, etc.), Article 31 (right to protection of law), and Article 32 (protection of right to life and personal liberty). Credible sources also indicate that those protesting against rape and those whose shops and homes were destroyed in the Guimara arson attack belong to the indigenous community.

HRFB believes that such situations cannot bring welfare for anyone; rather, they foster mistrust and instability. The urgent need of the moment is to ensure justice for each incident, provide compensation to victims, and guarantee medical treatment for the injured. While citizens have the right to protest and raise legitimate demands, protests should never be met with excessive use of force nor be allowed to escalate into violence. Likewise, law enforcement agencies and authorities must act with restraint, responsibility, and respect for human rights, ensuring civilian safety is not put at risk.

HRFB further stresses that violence, provocation, and confrontational behavior must be avoided. Solutions should come through peaceful and lawful means. Effective enforcement of the law, justice delivery, and protection of citizens’ rights are the only viable ways to overcome the current crisis. At this critical moment, all parties must act responsibly, refrain from fueling tensions, and seek peaceful resolution.

In this context, HRFB calls upon the government to immediately form a full-fledged independent judicial inquiry commission to uncover all aspects of the incidhrfbent in a transparent and impartial manner. It also urges swift justice and security for the rape survivor and her family, fair compensation and family protection for those killed, proper medical treatment for the injured, and rehabilitation for the affected families. HRFB firmly believes it is the moral duty of the state to safeguard the lives, rights, and dignity of its citizens. The government must take urgent steps to ensure the safety and rights of all communities living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and adopt measures to prevent the recurrence of such violence.