Hill Voice, 4 May 2024, Rangamati: A commemoration meeting and a religious ceremony were held at Longadu in Rangamati district to mark the 35th anniversary of the ‘ Longadu Genocide’, one of the worst brutal massacres on Jummas in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Identifying the real criminals involved in the killing, the commemoration meeting demanded that they be brought to justice and given appropriate punishment.
The event was held today (May 4) at around 9 am at Chiberega village under Bagachadar Union 4 of Longadu Upazila by Longadu Thana Branch of Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chattara Parishad (PCP).
General Secretary of Longadu thana Branch of PCP Rintumoni Chakma moderated the event while Vice President Sudirgha Chakma presided over it. In the event, Binoy Prasad Karbari, Agriculture and Land Affairs Secretary of Longadu Thana Branch of Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) as the chief guest and Longadu Thana Committee member of JSS Tapan Jyoti Karbari and Bidhan Chakma, Parbatya Chattagram Juba Samity President Dayal Kanti Chakma, local personalities Subash Chakma from Chiberega Village and Shantilal Chakma from Chalyatuli Village spoke among others there. Apart from this, Sadhan Jiban Chakma, organizing secretary of Longadu thana branch of PCP gave welcome speech.
At the beginning of the commemoration, a 2-minute silence was observed in memory of the martyrs of the genocide. The Speakers expressed deep condolence for the martyrs and condoled with the bereaved families. In the discussion, the speakers demanded to bring the killers to justice and give maximum punishment identifying them.
On the other hand, at the same time, a grand rituals was organized by the martyrs’ families in the memory of the martyrs for their heavenly lives at Tintila Bana Vihara in Longadu headquarters of Upazila.
Notably, the Longadu Massacre is one of the worst inhumane massacres and arson incidents committed by the army and infiltrated Muslim Bengali settlers on the indigenous Jumma people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. On this day in 1989, this massacre and arson was started around evening. This brutal devastation continued from May 4 to May 6. 32 Jummas including children, women and aged people were killed, at least 11 were injured, 1011 houses in 9 villages around Longadu including Longadu Sadar were burnt and looting was also done then. A government primary school and a high school were burnt down. 6 Buddhist monasteries were arson attacked, looted and vandalized. Thousands of people became homeless and internally displaced. Many were compelled to take refuge in neighboring India.
It is known that the masterminds and leaders of the attack were:- (1) Major Zakir Hossain, 14 EBR, Bangladesh Army, Mainimukh Army Zone Headquarters, Longadu, (2) Yusuf Ali (Settler), Address- Islamabad (Settler Settlement), Sonai Area, Longadu, (3) Ruhul Amin (Settler), Member, Mainimukh Union Parishad, Sonai Area, Longadu, (4) Nurul Islam Talukdar, Address- Sonai Area, (5) Siraj (Settler), Chairman, Atarakchara Union Parishad, Longadu.
Home and abroad, various human rights personalities and groups have protested against the genocide in various ways. But even then, and till now, there has been no inquiry into the massacre and no steps have been taken to punish the culprits. Even, no measures have been taken to provide proper compensation to the affected families.
