Hill Voice, 3 April 2025, Rangamati: Today Thursday (3 April 2025) in Jurachari Upazila of Rangamati Hill District, the Bangladesh Army has disrupted the scheduled 22nd annual conference and council of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Hill Students Council (PCP), Jurachari Thana branch. At the same time, the chief guest of the program, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) Vice President and former Member of Parliament Ushatan Talukder, and the tour team were detained and harassed at the Bhija Kiching Army camp, and 4 leaders and activists of the PCP’s Jurachari Thana branch were detained and at least 6 villagers were beaten up. In addition, the army set up extensive check posts in the area to prevent students and the public from reaching the program venue.

The Central Committee of the PCP and the Central Committee of the Hill Women’s Federation (HWF) have strongly condemned and protested against the army’s obstruction of the PCP’s democratic program in this way through a joint press statement. In the statement, the PCP and the HWF have strongly demanded to the interim government to ensure a democratic environment through promptly implementing the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord, by withdrawing all temporary army camps including Operation Uttoron, in accordance with the CHT Accord.

A press release signed by PCP Central Committee Information, Publicity and Publication Secretary Anwesh Chakma mentioned, “The 22nd annual conference and council of PCP, Jurachari Thana branch was pre-scheduled. In order to successfully organize the program at the District Council Rest House auditorium in Jurachari Headquarters and to get cooperation, the PCP submitted a letter to the Jurachari Upazila Executive Officer on March 28, 2025. The PCP representative team was informed by the UNO office that permission to organize the conference would not be granted.

To disrupt the conference, the army patrols from Jurachari Jakkha Bazar Army Camp to Jurachari Headquarters have been intensified since yesterday and temporary check posts have been set up at least at 7 places at the entrance to Jurachari Sadar. The check posts include 1. Rasta Matha, No.3 Ward, Banajogichara Union; 2. Boroituli, No.3 Ward, Banajogichara Union; 3. Dhamai Para, No.2 Ward, Banajogichara Union; 4. Jurachari Sadar Launchghat; 5. Ananda Para, No.2 Ward, Banajogichara Union; 6. In front of Jurachari Police Station and 7. Lulangchari, No.7 Ward, Jurachari Union. At these checkpoints, the general public has been harassed in various ways since yesterday, including asking for names, checking national identity cards, and checking bazar bags.

Not only that, yesterday, while conducting a search in Ananda Para of No.2 Ward of Banajogichara Union, the army personnel harassed and beat up 6 villagers. The victim six villagers are: 1) Rantu Chakma (25) son of Buddha Chakma, 2) Amar Bikash Chakma (28), son of Sagar Chakma, 3) Sanjeeb Chakma (30) son of Kalamorot Chakma, 4) Mento Chakma (30), son of Rabana Chakma, 5) Nantu Chakma (32), son of Rabana Chakma, and 6) Chikanne Chakma (42), son of Anudash Chakma.

In the morning of the day, a large presence of the army was observed around Jurachari Sadar and the auditorium of the Distrct Council Rest House, the venue of the program. At that time, the army sealed the auditorium and detained 4 PCP activists and supporters on the premises of the hall. The 4 victims are- 1) Swaresh Chakma, Vice President, PCP Jurachari Thana Branch, 2) Manish Chakma, Vice President, PCP Jurachari Thana Branch, 3) Emon Chakma, School and Library Secretary, PCP Jurachari Thana Branch and 4) Litan Chakma, a school student.

The statement further said, “Meanwhile, today, April 3, 2025 in the morning, when a tour team including the chief guest of the program, PCJSS Vice President and former Member of Parliament Ushatan Talukder, set off from Rangamati Sadar by boat, they were stopped at the Bhija Kiching Army Camp Checkpost on the way and the army asked them not to go to Jurachari on the pretext of fear of an attack by armed terrorists of the UPDF. Although the tour team said that there was no possibility of such an attack, the army members prevented them from going to Jurachari and after more than 40 minutes, when there was no change in the army’s position, the tour team returned to Rangamati.”

The statement said, “Hindering the activities of a democratic student organization like PCP can never be auspicious for the CHT and the entire country. The military rule in the name of Operation Uttoron, which has been going on since 2001 in violation of the CHT Accord, has become the main obstacle in creating a democratic environment in the CHT. Therefore, the PCP and the HWF strongly demand to the interim government to ensure a democratic environment by withdrawing all temporary army camps as per the CHT Accord and implementing the CHT Accord properly at the earliest.”

It is reported that at last the detained PCP leaders and activists have been released at about 2:30 pm.