Hill Voice, 11 March 2021, Rangamati: It has been alleged that the Bangladesh Army conducted a patrol in Balukhali area of Rangamati Sadar Upazila under Rangamati Hill District and searched at least 11 Jumma houses and harassed the people. At this time, there was deep concern and panic among the Jummas of the area.
According to local sources, on March 8, 2021, at around 11:30 pm, a group of army numbering 20 from the Marichya Bill Army Camp in Balukhali Union went to the nearby Kaindya Para Junior High School and took position there. The next day, in the morning of March 9, 2021, members of the army, being divided into two groups, of which one group went to Sagarbanda village and the other to Badalhat village. Three / four hours later, members of the army returned from there and took up position at a village school of UNICEF in Egujyachhari area. The army returned to Kaindya Junior High School this afternoon.
Meanwhile, on this day (March 9) at around 6:00 pm, another group of army numbering around 10 from Rangamati Sadar Army Zone joined the army stationed at Kaindya Junior High School. At around 8:30 pm, the army called in the area’s Headman, Karbaris (village head) and a number of dignitaries. During this time, the army members harassed the Headman, Karbaris and villagers by asking them where the terrorists are, whether they are in the area, whether they have to pay extortion to terrorists, etc.
The army members then went to Dojoripara village with Santosh Chakma, the Headman of the local No.125 Fulgazima Mouza and Purna Charan Karbari and sent the two of them to their respective homes around 10:00 pm.
After that, members of the army surrounded and searched the houses of the Jummas one by one in Dojoripara and the adjoining Kaindyapara village.
The Jumma villagers whose houses were searched are-1. Sadhan Chakma Barachoga (40), son of Kalachan Chakma, village-Dojoripara;2. Kala Chan Chakma (60), son of late Binod Kumar Chakma, village-do;3. Lakshan Chandra Chakma Lagna (65), son of late Binod Kumar Chakma, village-do;4. Ful Mohan Chakma (42), son of Subidhan Chakma, Village-do;5. Trimoy Chakma (35), son of Man Chakma, Village-do; 6. Subidhan Chakma (71), son of late Dhananjay Chakma, village-do;7. Sadhan Chakma (38), son of Surya Dhan Chakma, village-do;8. Achentu Chakma (43), son of Indra Mohan Chakma, village-do;9. Joysen Chakma (41), son of Bakkya Chakma, Village-do;10. Shubh Lal Chakma (48), son of Binond Kumar Chakma, village-Kaindya Para;11. Shanti Ram Chakma (42), son of Anda Lal Chakma, village-do.
It may be mentioned that on March 9, 2021 in the morning, the Bangladesh Army arrested two sick and innocent Jummas named Shanti Ranjan Chakma (25) and Ranjan Chakma (35) in Maidung Union of Jurachhari Upazila of Rangamati and tortured them by tying them to a tree.
On March 8, 2021 at around 8:00 pm, Bhagyalal Chakma (47), an elected member of No.8 Naraichhari Ward of Kengrachhari Union in Bilaichhari Upazila of Rangamati, was arrested and beaten by the army.
Besides, there were allegations of conducting massive patrols by the army in different places of Baghaichhari upazila in February and searching and harassing various houses.
