Hill Voice, 1st May 2025, Special Correspondent: Islamization is underway in the Ward No. 9 area of Kurukpata Union of Alikadam Upazila of Bandarban district under the lure of education and healthcare (medical treatment) of the indigenous Mro and Tripura communities. Recently, the Saptashish Model Academy Mosque and educational institution have been inaugurated in Pauamuhuri, Matamuhuri Reserve. Locals said that the children are taught Islamic Quran in the name of education.

According to local sources, the newly established Saptashish Model Academy Mosque and Educational Institution was inaugurated at 11:30 am on Sunday, January 19, 2025 in Pauamuhuri. This institution was started there to teach Islamic Quran to children in the name of education. It was inaugurated under the name Saptashish Model Academy School by the founder, Eidgah Model Hospital Manager of Eidgaon Upazila in Cox’s Bazar, eminent Dai Dr. Yusuf Ali, with the Quran recitation by Neo Muslim Abdullah Mro and Neo Muslim Saiful Islam Tripura. Former Chairman of Alikadam Upazila Parishad, Abul Kalam, was present as the chief guest of the event.

Special guests included prominent child specialist Dr. Rafiq Uddin, General Secretary of Eidgaon Upazila Press Club Nasir Uddin Al Noman, President of Eidgaon Adarsha Journalist Council Anwar Hossain, Dai Maulana Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, Kochang Mro Karbari, Dobhashi Tripura Karbari, Neo-Muslim Master Kamal Hossain Mro and Bikash Mro, among others.

Through Neo-Muslim Md. Helal Uddin Tripura and Dobhashi Tripura Karbari, Neo-Muslim Master Kamal Hossain Mro, Islamization programs were conducted in the Matamuhuri Reserve area by offering education and treatment to children. In the name of Saptashish Model Academy School, no other education is given to indigenous children except Islamic education.

A few years ago, the Lama Forest Department vandalized the religious places of worship of the Tripura people in Sathiram Tripura Para in this reserve area, alleging that they were occupying the land of the Matamuhuri Reserve. Meanwhile, no semi-pucca or pucca buildings have been constructed in the Matamuhuri Reserve area, but various questions have been raised in the public mind about how the Saptashish Model Academy was constructed.

Former Upazila Chairman Abul Kalam said that Dr. Md. Yusuf Ali, who came from Eidgaon Upazila of Cox’s Bazar, called on the present male and female indigenous guardians to assess the initiative taken by him to enlighten the children of the hill indigenous community in the Pauamuhuri area, which is inhabited by the very remote hill indigenous community on the Myanmar border of Alikadam Hill Upazila.

He requested to continue to support the newly established school in transforming it into a higher institution in the future. He urged the indigenous community present to admit their children to this institution without being misled by any kind of propaganda.

The founder of this school, Dr. Yusuf Ali, said that since the indigenous children live in remote and isolated hilly areas, there is a completely free accommodation and food facility to ensure their safety. In the future, the president mentioned in his speech that medical camps with free medicines will be conducted in this tribal area.

He also established a mosque for Muslims along with the school. More than a hundred male and female guardians of remote hilly indigenous community participated in the program spontaneously with their children.

The program of conversion of Jumma Buddhists, Hindus and Christians of the CHT to Islam has been seen taking place very often. Conversion is going on in Bandarban district especially with the lure of financial facilities, education, health care, house construction, cow and goat rearing, interest-free loans, etc. In Bandarban district, settlements for converted Muslims have been established under the names of organizations such as ‘Tribal Muslim Adarsha Sangha’, ‘Tribal Muslim Welfare Organization’ and ‘Tribal Adarsha Sangha Bangladesh’ and through these organizations, the work of converting Jumma people to Islam is being carried out.