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Construction of border road by army: Conspiracy to evict Jumma villages for tourism

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Hill Voice, 26 December 2024, Special Report: By evicting the indigenous Jumma villages, destroying houses and plantations of Jumma people, obstructing Jum cultivation and construction of houses at adjacent area of roads, the Bangladesh army are constructing border road and connecting roads in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). One of the latest examples of that is the conspiracy of eviction of 23 families and obstructing Jum cultivation of two Gachbagan Para and Thum Para on the boundary of Jurachari and Bilaichari in Rangamati district by the 26 Engineer Construction Battalion under the 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Army.

On March 9, 2024, a group of army led by the Commander of Chaichal Project Camp Captain Kabir and Subedar Priya Ranjan Chakma informed the Jumma villagers that they will set up a tourist center at Pilar Chug and Langel Tila between Thum Para and Gachbagan Para. Therefore, The villagers of these two villages will have to leave the village and go elsewhere and Jum farming cannot be done there and in the surrounding areas and Jums that are preliminarily prepared cannot be set on fire for final preparation. The Army threatened to face dire consequences otherwise.

Then, on March 11, 2024, the army started cutting the hills in Pilar Chug and Langel Tila with excavators and razed the Jum-farm of Buddhalila Chakma. Earlier, on March 6, the army destroyed the Jum-farm of Birasen Tanchangya with the excavator. On March 12, 2024 Chaichal army camp commander Captain Kabir and Subedar Priya Ranjan Chakma asked Karbari (village head) Thudo Chakma of Gachbagan Para village to provide list of Jums. Captain Kabir Karbari also told Thudo Chakma, “You have to leave the village whether you provide the list of Jums or not. No one has ever benefited from going against the government’s decision. So, instead of going against the government, you leave the village and go elsewhere.” These villagers who have been ordered to leave the village are now in deep anxiety and panic.

On March 19, 2024, a human chain was organized by the villagers of two villages at the south gate of the Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s office and a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commission of Rangamati district demanding that the 26 Engineering Construction Brigade of the Army should stop the eviction of villagers of Gachbagan Para and Thum Para on the border of Jurachhari-Bilaichhari.

The villagers mentioned in the memorandum that their main livelihood is Jum cultivation. In the last 24/25 years, many of them have developed banana plantations, mango-jackfruit plantations, tiger grass plantations. Along with paddy cultivation, many people also cultivated ginger, turmeric, sesame, pepper etc. It is also said that if the tourist center is established and the said two villages are evicted, along with it, the Jumma villages of Shukkarchari, Changrachari, Dulubagan, Mandirachara of Bilaichari and Mandirachara of Jurachhari will also be forced to be evicted.

The villagers put four-point demand including to withdraw the order to evict the villagers of Gachbagan Para and Thum Para, to stop the establishment of tourist centers nearby indigenous villages, to stop any type of obstruction during Jum cultivation and to provide compensation to the affected indigenous families. It is hopeful that after the protest, the army allowed villagers to cultivate Jum and set fire to preliminary prepared Jum. However, the army have not yet withdrawn the order to leave the village.

On March 8, 2024 at approximately 3 pm, a high-ranking officer of the army visited the Chaichal army camp. The very next day (March 9) army personnel from Chaichal camp went to the village and informed the Jumma villagers of Gachbagan Para and Thum Para that the army chief ordered to stop Jum farming and 12 families of Gachbagan Para had to leave the village, the memorandum says.

It is to be noted that the construction project of 317 km long border road (Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban hill districts) is being implemented by the Bangladesh Army on the border with India and Myanmar. Besides, there are many connecting roads with it. Among them, the connecting roads are- Alikadam-Kurukpata-Poamuhuri link road; Rajasthali-Bilaichari-Jurachari-Barkal-Thegamukh link road; Sijakchara to Sajek-Shilda-Betling link road; and Link road from Ugalchari village to Majhipara under Baghaichari upazila.

The indigenous Jumma people living in three hill districts of CHT have been and continue to suffer massive deprivation, eviction from their ancestral land and massive loss of fruit plantations, forests and land-property due to the border road construction project constructing under the leadership of the Bangladesh Army. Prior to the adoption and implementation of the said project, the opinions of the local leadership and people, including the CHT Regional Council and the three Hill District Councils, were ignored, and the human rights and compensation of the local residents who suffered losses were trampled upon.

It is reported that at least 776 Jumma families in three hill districts (Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban) have suffered severe damage and at least 78 families have been evicted from their homesteads and villages due to this border road and link road project. Even, the number of affected families could be more. The latest one of such evictions is conspiracy of eviction of 23 Jumma families from Gachbagan Para and Thum Para in Jurachari and Bilaichari Upazila. Out of 776 affected families, only 56 families of Baghaichari area have received partial compensation as a result of massive protests. The rest received no compensation. When the affected families approach the military for compensation, they say with their mighty power, “Country is ours, land is ours, why should we give compensation?”

At present, one of the tools of land dispossession in the CHT is the establishment of camps and tourist centers. Just as army and BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) camps are set up everywhere in the name of security, while they also occupy land and hills and set up luxurious tourist centers in the name of development taking the advantage of the border road construction project. For examples, a BGB camp was constructed by expropriating the land of 6 families in Kamalak area of Sajek Union of Baghaichari. An army camp was set up at a place called Sijakachara Mukha and another army camp in the Udaipur area after confiscating the land of Jumma villagers.

Besides, there are plans to set up 5 army camps from Sijakchara to Udaipur under Baghaichari upazila. A BGB camp has been set up in Ghilatuli village of Logang union of Panchari upazila in Khagrachari district by occupying the fruit plantations of Jumma villagers. Chaichal army camp of Dumdumya Union of Jurachari was also established during the construction of the border road.

Warrant Officer of Chaichal army camp Saiful is forcibly trying to collect signatures from the headman of the local Gandachara Mouza Sangur Pangkhua and the headman of Rengkhyong Chongrachari Mouza Balabhadra Chakma for the purpose of expropriation of the land adjacent to border road and surrounding areas, stating that these lands and hills are Khas land (Government land). However, according to the traditional land management in CHT, there is no Khas land in CHT. The lands and hills identified by the army as Khas lands are regarded as community-owned Mouza land and Jum land of indigenous Jumma people.

Besides, during the construction of the border road and the link road, the army and BGB authorities selected many attractive places adjacent to the road and occupied them putting signboard as ‘protected areas’ for the purpose of setting up tourist centers. The border road and link roads not only evicted the Jumma villagers, destroyed their houses and plantations, and obstructing of building houses at adjacent areas of roads, but also destroyed the forests, environment and biodiversity in the area. Water sources are being destroyed due to indiscriminate quarrying of stones from streams for road construction. As a result, there is a crisis of drinking water in many areas.

There are also allegations that the army have put up signboards with Muslim names at various places along the border road and link roads against the indigenous names of Jumma people. Some examples are – ‘Shaheen Tila’ in place of Bhije Hijing in Sarbowatli union of Baghaichari, ‘Mahmud Tila’ in place of Kingar Para area in Sajek union, ‘Enamul Tila’ in place of Durbachara area in Sajek union, ‘Sajib Tila’ in place of Battala in Sajek union, ‘Shamim Tila’ at Kingkar Para, ‘Saidur Tila’ at Bhuyochara in Sajek union, ‘Ismail Tila (BOP Post)’ at Kingkar Para in Sajek union, ‘Al-Amin Tila’ at Bhuyochara in Sajek union etc.

This can be considered as a part of extreme Islamic expansionist aggression on the Jumma people and a deeper conspiracy to wipe out the tradition and indigenous name of Jumma people. It can also be considered that despite the commitment and provisions of the CHT Accord to preserve the characteristics of Jumma (tribal) inhabited areas in CHT region, the government and the army are completely disregarding it and undermining the characteristics of the Jumma inhabited region, through the indiscriminate implementation of this border road and link road project.

Local Jumma people fear that the border road construction project will cause far-reaching damage to the indigenous Jumma people in addition to the current crisis due to non-implementation of the CHT Accord that includes unresolved land disputes and non-implementation of the special governance system to be introduced in light of the CHT Accord. Above all, due to the anti-Accord and anti-interest of Jumma people role of the army and government, it will increase the process of outsider infiltration, cultural invasion, dominance of outsider capital, land dispossession and alienation of the natives, making it very difficult for Jumma people to survive with their culture, tradition and self-governance.

Immediate intervention sought to PM saving scared pilgrimage site Kantaji Temple of Hindus

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Hill Voice, 23 March 2024, Dhaka: Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad has expressed deep concern over the illegal construction of a mosque on the Debottor land of the historic Kantaji temple in Dinajpur, a holy pilgrimage site to Hindus with rich in antiquity.

The trio presidents of the Parisad former member of Parliament (MP) Ushatan Talukder, Professor Dr. Nim Chandra Bhowmik and Nirmal Rosario, and General Secretary advocate Rana Dasgupta in a statement expressed their strong condemnation and anger having laid the foundation stone for a mosque on the Devotar land of Kantaji Temple by local MP Alhaj Zakaria Jaka and being the main initiator of this illegal work.

In the statement, they further said that the MP and the Deputy Commissioner have engaged in a despicable attempt to destroy the image of the nation and the country by associating themselves with this anti-communal harmony activities which is undoubtedly against the peace and law & order of the country.

The Parishad has sought immediate intervention of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to ensure the religious freedom of the Hindu community by protecting the sanctity of the Kantaji temple.

On March 23, the leaders of the organization referring a press release signed by a presidium member of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad Kajal Debnath said about this statement.

Strange signboards of Army-BGB in Baghaichari: New pattern of cultural invasion and land grabbing

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Hill Voice, 22 March 2024, Special Report: Recently, by taking the advantage of construction of border road and link road at Baghaichari in Rangamati district, Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have installed strange signboards with new names of Muslim persons against the local indigenous names in various habitations of local indigenous Jumma people.

According to the locals and observers, the army and the army-led BGB have intentionally put up these signboards mainly aiming to cultural aggression in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), and land grabbing and eviction of the local Jumma people. Needless to say, the language, culture, history and tradition of the local Jumma people have no contact with those names written on that signboard.

Some examples of such signboards bearing distort names are- ‘Shaheen Tila’ in place of Bhije Hijing in Sarbowatli union of Baghaichari, ‘Mahmud Tila’ in place of Kingkar Para area in Sajek union, ‘Enamul Tila’ in place of Durbachara area in Sajek union, ‘Sajib Tila’ in place of Battala in Sajek union, ‘Shamim Tila’ at Kingkar Para, ‘Saidur Tila’ at Bhuyochara in Sajek union, ‘Ismail Tila (BOP Post)’ at Kingkar Para in Sajek union, ‘Al-Amin Tila’ at Bhuyochara in Sajek union etc.

It has been found out that the indigenous people have been living in those areas for ages and have been making a living by Jum farming and plantation. From the very beginning to date, there were no Muslim settlements. The locals have never even heard the names on the signboards.

A rights activist from Baghaichari requesting not to be named said that this is a conspiracy of the anti-Jumma army intending to wipe out the history and tradition of Jumma people. Placing such signboards will also encourage outsider infiltration in the region.

Besides, during the construction of the border road and the link road, the army and BGB authorities selected many attractive places around the road and occupied them putting signboard as ‘protected areas’ for the purpose of setting up tourist centers. Moreover, the army and the BGB authorities were found placing signboards in many places declaring protected areas, even at the sites of schools and religious institutions. They have restricted the people for movement.

Examples of these are-
(1) The army recently has put a signboard at a Buddhist temple site called ‘Mahasatipatthan Bhabana Kutir’ at Regachara in Sarboatali Union of Baghaichari stating as ‘protected area’. They imposed restriction on soil cutting and movement of locals.

(2) On behalf of Longudu Army Zone, a signboard has been placed near the Jumma village in the North Khagrachari area of Sarboatali Union in Baghaichari, stating- ‘place designated for security forces’, construction of Buddhist temple including other religious institution or any kind of structure is prohibited and punishable offence.

(3) a signboard has been put even at the site of Shantinagar Private School in Gulshakhali of Longadu Upazila mentioning ‘Shantinagar BGB Camp, Rajanagar Zone 37 BGB’.

 

Such activities can be considered as part of the extreme Islamic expansionist aggression on the Jumma people and a deeper conspiracy to wipe out the Jumma tradition and traces. It is clear that by implementing this project, the government and the army are completely ignoring the commitments and provisions of the CHT Accord to preserve the characteristics of Jumma (tribal) inhabited region of the CHT, and inflicting profound blow to the characteristics of the Jumma dominant region.

Local Jumma people fear that the border road construction project will cause far-reaching damage to the indigenous Jumma people in addition to the current crisis due to non-implementation of the CHT Accord that includes unresolved land disputes and non-implementation of the special governance system to be introduced in light of the CHT Accord. Above all, due to the anti-Accord and anti-interest of Jumma people role of the army and government, it will increase the process of outsider infiltration, cultural invasion, dominance of outsider capital, land dispossession and alienation of the natives, making it very difficult for Jumma people to survive with their culture, tradition and self-governance.

Notably, the first phase construction project of 317 km long border road (Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban Hill Districts) is being implemented by the Bangladesh Army on the border with India and Myanmar. At least 776 Jumma families in three hill districts (Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban) have suffered severe damage and at least 78 families have been evicted from their homesteads and villages due to this border road and link road project.

Recently, due to Rajasthali-Bilaichari-Jurachari border link road construction in Rangamati District by 26 Engineer Construction Battalion of the army under 34 Engineer Construction Brigade, a total of 23 Jumma families from 2 villages along Jurachari and Bilaichari border are at the face of eviction. The army have already instructed the villagers to vacate the villages and obstructed them from Jum farming.

Protest march and rally in Dhaka to stop eviction of two Jumma villages

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Hill Voice, 21 March 2024, Rangamati: A protest march and a demonstration was held at Shahbagh in Dhaka organized by student and youth organizations of pro-CHT Accord implementation movement demanding to stop eviction of 2 indigenous Jumma villages for tourist centre naming Gachbagan Para and Thum Para on the border of Jurachari and Bilaichari upazilas in Rangamati hill district, on 21 March 2024, Thursday.

The demonstration was moderated by the organizing secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan unit of Pahari Chatra Parisad (PCP) Rubel Chakma while presided over by President of Bangladesh Juba Maitri Touhidur Rahman Touhid.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Youth Union Jahangir Alam Nanu, Vice President of Bangladesh Adivasi Youth Forum Tony Chiran, President of Bangladesh Chatra Maitri Atulon Das Alo, General Secretary of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Chatra Front Raihan Uddin, President of Bangladesh Chatra League (BCL) Goutam Shil, President of Dhaka Metropolitan unit of PCP Jagdish Chakma, General Secretary of Bangladesh Marma Student Council Aung Shwe Singh Marma and President of Dhaka Metropolitan Branch of Bangladesh Mro Student Association, Danwai Mro and others spoke among others in the event.

Riya Chakma, general secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan Committee of Hill Women’s Federation read out the statement in the gathering.

President of Dhaka Metropolitan Branch of Bangladesh Mro Student Association Danwai Mro in his welcome speech said that the country’s ruling group has been suppressing and oppressing the CHT for a long time. As per CHT Accord, the participation of hill people in Hill District Council projects should be ensured. The indigenous Jumma people has constantly been put on pressure. In the name of development, roller coasters are being run on the Jumma people.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Marma Student Council Aung Shwe Singh Marma said that the army has hatched conspiracy to evict the two indigenous Jumma villages by boarder road in the name of tourism. The main means of living of the hill people is Jum cultivation. If the ruling class do not allow the cultivation of Jum, turmeric and ginger cultivation, then it is a matter of think that how the Jumma people will survive. We are neither against development or tourism. But if we are evicted in the name of tourism, we oppose that kind of development. We demand withdrawal of temporary army camps from hills, functional of Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission and hand over the subject of Land Management to the Hill District Council as per the CHT Accord.

President of Dhaka Metropolitan unit of PCP Jagdish Chakma said, “We are to stand at this Shahbagh again and again regarding to protest the incidents in the hills and plains. Which is very sad. We cannot consider that as development which evicts the Jummas from their lands. Attempts are being made to arrest the victimized Jummas. The Bangladesh Army should be guard to Bangladesh’s sovereignty but not broacher. Why will they do tourism business? They want to evict the Jummas from Bangladesh. He also said that the ruling class is plotting various conspiracies to thwart the CHT Accord. He called upon all the progressive student societies to stay in the struggle.

Jasad Chatra League president Goutam Shil said that the hill community are dependent on Jum cultivation for thousands of years. And efforts are being made to stop it. It is a shame when a state does not treat all its communities equally. It is sorry to say that, today the army are destroying the Jummas in the name of development. Don’t evict anyone in the name of development. Calling on the state machineries, he urge to stop evicting hill dwellers in the name of development.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Chatra Front Raihan Uddin said that any development taken should be people-friendly. The Lusai of Sajek were evicted, the Mro in Chimbuk hill are kept under process to evict. We will not allow some business group looting while the government support them in doing so.

Expressing solidarity in the rally, President of Bangladesh Chatra Maitri Atulon Das Alo said that the government provide compensation while implement project in the plain but why is it different in the case of hills? No compensation is given in the hills. On the contrary, special forces were sent to kill the hill people at night. A policy of two rules in a state towards the citizens is not fair. Along with the Bengalis, the Jummas also shed blood for the independence of Bangladesh. He also said that these problems cannot be solved unless the CHT Accord is implemented. The hill communities need clean water, employment and quality education facilities.

Vice-president of Bangladesh Adivasi Youth Forum Tony Chiran said, “I want to say to the honourable Prime Minister that we don’t just want to live in the National Museum box, but want all kinds of rights including land rights. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, why the settlers are provided ration. He also said that the fundamental clauses of the CHT Accord have not been implemented. Rape, harassment, disappearances are going on in the hills today with the instigation of a special group. If it is not stopped, we will continue our struggle on the street of hill and plains.

Jahangir Alam Nanu, general secretary of Bangladesh Youth Union, in his solidarity speech said that all regions of Bangladesh should be equally developed. But we found that the hill peoples in CHT are not given equal civil rights. The CHT Accord has not been implemented even after 26 years. Land grabbing in the hills is a common phenomenon, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission has not been functional. The government is not solving the CHT issue with an aim to provide facilities to the army. Why will the villages be evicted for border road? Where will the hill dwellers go after being ousted? When the Prime Minister said not a single piece of land could be kept vacant, today the hill people are being prevented from cultivating Jum farm?

In the president’s speech, Touhidur Rahman Touhid said that the attempts to evict the hill dwellers must be stopped. The indigenous people of Bangladesh should be given equal rights. The Jummas were ousted by the Kaptai Dam. Although the internal displaced persons are supposed to rehabilitate as per the Accord, but still the Accord has yet to be implemented till the day. Although the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Disputes Resolution Commission has been formed, its rules have not been formulated yet. He also said that the indigenous people should be kept in the tourism process. Eco-tourism should be ensured. The effort for tourism evicting the villagers should be stopped with providing them security.

The following 8 points were demanded from the rally-
1. Stop eviction of indigenous peoples in the name of tourism.
2. Stop land grabbing in the name of tourism.
3. Provide security to the villagers.
4. Withdraw the instruction for leaving the two villages.
5. Stop tourism adjacent to the villages.
6. Don’t obstruct to jum cultivation.
7. Provide compensation to the families affected by the border road project.
8. According to the CHT Accord, transfer the tourism sector to the Hill District Councils immediately

The army are plotting to evict 23 families of two Jumma villages on the boundary of Jurachari and Bilaichari by taking the advantage of construction of the Rajasthali-Bilaichari-Jurachhari border link road in Rangamati district by the 26 Engineering Construction Battalion under the 34 Engineering Construction Brigade of the Army. These two villages are Gachbagan Para of Dumdumya Union under Jurachari Upazila and Thum Para of Farua Union under Bilaichari Upazila. The army ordered 12 families of Gachbagan Para to leave their villages and banned at least 17 families of two villages from Jum farming, their main source of livelihood.

Human chain and memorandum of villagers protesting eviction of 2 villages on Bilaichari-Jurachari border

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Hill Voice, 19 March 2024, Rangamati: Two villagers in Rangamati have formed a human chain and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding an end to the eviction of Gachbagan Para and Thum Para on the Jurachari-Bilaichari border by 26 Engineering Construction Battalion of the army.

Today Tuesday (March 19) this human chain was held at the south gate of Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s office. Presided over by Kabari Ajit Kumar Chakma of Dulu Para, the human chain was addressed by Madan Bikas Chakma, a resident of Thum Para and Punyarani Chakma, a resident of Dulu Para. Besides, President of Rangamati District Branch of Pahari Chatra Parishad (PCP) Jiko Chakma, Central Organizing Secretary of Hill Women’s Federation Ulising Marma, General Secretary of Chittagong Hill Tracts chapter of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum Intu Moni Talukdar and prominent educationist Shishir Chakma also gave solidarity speech in the human chain.

At the end of the human chain, a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister with 4 demands through the Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati hill district. Ajit Kumar Chakma, Madan Bikas Chakma, Chibokkha Chakma and Punyarani Chakma signed the memorandum on behalf of the hill dwellers of Gachbagan Para and Thum Para. Barshi Chakma read the memorandum while Sajal Chakma, a resident of Farua Union, conducted the event.

The memorandum states that by abusing their power and violating the basic human rights of the local Jumma people in order to develop their tourism business centering on the border road in the area, the army have started the process of forcible eviction of the residents of two Jumma villages and have banned 17 families from the two villages on Jum farming, their main source of livelihood. If the tourism center is established and the said two villages are evicted, along with it the hilly villages of Shukkarchari, Changrachari, Dulubagan, Mandirachara of Bilaichari and Mandirachara of Jurachari will also be forced to evict.

On March 9, 2024, a group of army under the leadership of Priya Ranjan Chakma, Subedar of Chaichal Army Camp, arrived in Gachbagan Para village and called a meeting with some representatives of Gachbagan Para and Thum Para villagers. Meanwhile, Subedar Priya Ranjan Chakma ordered 12 families of Gachbagan Para village to leave the village immediately and threatened to face bad times in the future if they did not obey the order. Meanwhile, the army personnel also informed that they will set up a tourism center at Pilar Chug and Langel Tila between Thum Para and Gachbagan Para, so Jum-farming cannot be developed there and in the surrounding areas and Jum-farms cannot be set on fire. That means Jum farming cannot be done in these two villages and surrounding areas.

The very next day (last March 11) the army started cutting the soil in Pilar Chug and Langel Tila with excavators and razed the Jum-farm of Buddhalila Chakma. Earlier, on March 6, the army destroyed the Jum-farm of Birsen Tanchangya with the excavator.

Last on March 12, 2924 Chaichal army camp commander Captain Kabir and Subedar Priya Ranjan Chakma went to the house of Karbari (village head) Thudo Chakma of Gachbagan Para village and asked for the list of Jum farms. Captain Kabir told Karbari Thudo Chakma, “It does not matter whether you give or don’t give the list of Jum-farm, you have to leave the village. No one has ever benefited from going against the government’s decision. Therefore, instead of going against the government, leave the place and go elsewhere.” Meanwhile, Captain Kabir ordered to submit the list of Jums to the camp by night.

The memorandum states that on March 8, 2024 at approximately 3 pm, Chief of Army Staff General Saifuddin Ahmed visited the Chaichal army camp r. The very next day (March 9) army personnel from Chaichal camp went to the village and informed the Jumma villagers of Gachbagan Para and Thum Para that the army chief ordered to stop Jum farming and instructed 12 families of Gachbagan Para to leave village.

The memorandum further states that we currently have 23 Jumma families living in Gachbagan Para and Thum Para. These Jumma families started settling there from 1998, immediately after the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord in 1997. Our main livelihood is Jum farming. In the last 24/25 years, many of them have developed banana plantation, mango-jackfruit plantations, tiger groom plantation. Along with paddy cultivation, many people also cultivated ginger, turmeric, sesame, pepper etc.

Due to the army ban on Jum-farming, the indigenous villagers are now very disoriented. In the memorandum, the villagers demanded four points including to revoke the order for villagers to leave the village for protecting their homes, land and livelihood; to cancel establishing tourism adjacent to villages; to withdraw the ban on Jum cultivation and to provide compensation to the affected families whose plantation were destroyed. These villagers who have been ordered to leave the village are now in deep anxiety and panic.

Copies have also been provided to State Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry, Chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, Chairman of Rangamati Hills District Council for kind notice and urgent action.

Six Mro women and children ruthlessly beaten by Bengali settler in Alikadam

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Photo: Scars of the victim Mro women in the assault.

Hill Voice, 18 March 2024, Bandarban: Six indigenous Mro women and children were allegedly ruthlessly beaten up by a Muslim Bengali settler youth in Alikadam Sadar Union of Alidkam Upazila under Bandarban hill district. Among the victims, three women with serious injuries were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex.

The name of the assaulter was Md. Shah Uddin (25), son of Md. Fazal Kabir, Village- Najumia Sardar Dakkin-Purba (South-East) Palang Para, Ward No 3, Sadar Alikadam Union.

When a case was tried to file on behalf of the victims with the Alikadam police station, the police officer in charge refused to take the lawsuit, saying to settle the matter by discussing with the settlers’ leaders.

The six victim Jumma women and children were- (1) Changpa Mro (36), wife of Chaknai Mro; (2) Lengrung Mro (22), wife of Menpre Mro; (3) Hiliu Mro (13), daughter of chaknai Mro; (4) Burao Mro (13), daughter of Suilapru Mro; (5) Tungtok Mro (50), wife of Ruireng Mro and (6) Nongpao Mro (19), wife of Khamchum Mro. All the victims are residents of Amtali Satklam Mro para of Ward No. 5 under Sadar Alikadam Union.

According to the victims and locals, the victims went to look for vegetables, fish, shrimp, snails etc. on the stream and hill in Tainkhal area on (Thursday) March 14, 2024, at around 10 am. When they reached a place down the Guisap Jhiri (stream) Mukh while searching for green vegetables, suddenly, without any provocation or talking, the Bengali settler youth Md. Shah Uddin assaulted on the Jumma women and children with sticks.

While beating, the attacker Md. Shah Uddin said, “The soil of my land may collapse, you can’t come here, why do you come here?” Several sticks were broken while beating them, the victims said.

Particularly, Changpa Mro (36), Lengrung Mro (22) and Tungtok Mro (50) were seriously injured by the stick hit. Their hands, feet, shoulders were severely injured. Later they were admitted to Alikadam Upazila Health Complex.

The source of concern added, immediately after the incident, the victims led by Karbari Suisamong Mro went to Alikadam Police Station to file a complaint, but the police officer in charge there (Name could not be known) expressed his inability to take the case. The police officer advised them that prosecution would cost money. Rather, you discuss socially with the accused’s seniors and try to reach a compromise.

A Chakma youth killed by Bengali settlers at Bogachari, Naniarchar

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Hill Voice, 15 March 2024, Rangamati: It is reported that Jikon Chakma (26), a motorcycle driver, was killed by Bengali settlers in Bogachari area of Naniarchar upazila under Rangamati hill district.

According to local sources, Jikon Chakma (26), son of Niranjoy Chakma from Bangmara Hola village went to watch football match at Battola play ground after driving a Bengali trader named Md Zia to Islampur by a motorcycle on 14 March 2024 at noon. On Swooping on the victim, the Bengali settlers indiscriminately beat and stabbed him when he reached the Rastha Mata of Bagachari Jame Masjid area while he was on his way back home by the motorcycle on March 14, 2024, at around 4.30 pm. The Bengali settlers ran away seriously injuring him on the spot.

Later, some local Bengalis rescued Jikon Chakma in unconscious state and sent him to Naniarchar Upazila Health Complex by auto-rickshaw. The doctor on duty sent Jikon Chakma to Rangamati Sadar General Hospital. He died on the way to Rangamati.

Talking to the relatives, Jikon Chakma uttered Alamgir’s name twice in almost a senseless state at the Naniachar Upazila Health Complex. Settler Md. Alamgir (28), son of Md Mosharraf, village-Bagachari is suspected to have involved in the murder.

As of writing this report, no case has been filed in this incident. However, the victim family is reportedly taking preparation to lodge a case regarding the murder.

Army-backed terrorists loot villager turmeric, demand Tk 10,000 as extortion in Bilaichari

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Hill Voice, 15 March 2024, Rangamati: Bangladesh Army-backed UPDF (Democratic) terrorists have allegedly robbed about 8.5 mounds of dried turmeric from a Jumma villager in Bilaichari Upazila Sadar area of Rangamati hill district. Besides, it is said that the terrorists also demanded an extortion of Tk 10,000 from him.

According to local sources, a group of UPDF (democratic) terrorists led by Sagar Chakma took away 8.50 mounds of dried turmeric from Sundarmuni Chakma (47), son of- unknown from Bilaichari Upazila Sadar Bazar Ghat on 15 March 2024, around 6 pm. In addition, demanding Tk 10,000 from the victim, they threatened to stop his trade if the extortion is not paid. The incident spread anxiety and panic among other Jumma raw material sellers.

It is known that the Sundarmuni Chakma brought the dried turmeric grown by themselves to the market for sale. The current market price of robbed goods is more than 64 thousand takas.

According to a source, with the help of local army, DGFI and local Awami League workers, these army-supported terrorists have been demanding extortion in various ways including issuing letter and holding meeting with the headman-karbari, chairman-member of Union Parishad in various areas of Bilaichari Upazila, at their base area, Jibtali of Rangamati. Those who refuse to pay extortion, the terrorists threat them in various ways including physical torture.

Two Jumma villages under threat to extinction at army eviction plan

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Hill Voice, 13 March 2024, Special Correspondent: The indigenous Jumma inhabitants of two remote villages along the border road bordering Jurachari and Bilaichari upazilas under Rangamati District have allegedly been subjected to eviction by the Bangladesh Army. Reportedly, the army ordered 12 families to vacate their villages and prohibition was imposed on them for Jum cultivation- the main means of livelihood of at least 17 families of two village.

According to the sources, the army abusing power in order to develop monopolistic tourism business and establish military dominance centring border road of the area, and violating the basic human rights of the local indigenous Jumma people, initiated processes of evicting these indigenous people of the two villages i.e. Gachbagan Para and Thum Para. Once the tourist centre is set up, those two villages will be wiped out. Shukkarchari, Chongrachari and Mandirachra in Bilaichari upazila and Mandirachra in Jurachari upazila will also be ousted spontaneously.

It is explored that the two villages Gachbagan Para and Thum Para adjacent to the under construction border road by the Bangladesh army was affected. However, the Gachbagan Para village is in Dumdumya union under Jurachari upazila, while Thum Para village is in Farua union of Bilaichari upazila. Chaichal army camp is in Gachbagan Para area. The Chaichal army on instruction of the higher army authority is executing the plan of removing the Jumma villagers.

According to the local sources, an army group led by Priya Ranjan Chakma, subedar of Chaichal army camp, going to the Gachbagan Para village by vehicle, hold a meeting calling some elderly persons of Gachbagan Para and Thum Para villagers on March 9, 2024. During the meeting, Subedar Priya Ranjan Chakma ordered 12 families of Gachbagan Para village to leave the village immediately and threatened that otherwise they would suffer difficulties. The army personnel also said they would set up a tourist centre at Pilar Chug and Langel Tila at the middle of Thum Para and Gachbagan Para, so Jum-farms cannot be developed there and adjacent areas and the Jums which were already cut cannot be burnt. That means Jum farming cannot be done in these two villages and surrounding areas.

The very next day (March 11) the army started cutting hills in Pilar Chug and Langel Tila with excavators destroying Jum-farm of Budhalila Chakma. Earlier, on March 6, the army destroyed the Jum-farm of Birosen Tanchangya with excavator.

Gachbagan Para

Reportedly, going to Thudo Karbari house in Gachbagan Para village, Chaichal army camp commander Captain Kabir and Subedar Prio Ranjan Chakma asked for the list of Jum-farms. But out of fear Karbari Thudo Chakma refused to give the list of Jum-farms. Meanwhile, Captain Kabir told Karbari Thudo Chakma, “You have to vacate the village whether you give the list or not. So, give the list and leave the village taking some compensation. No one gain anything going against the government’s decision. So, instead of opposing the government, leave the place and go elsewhere.” It should be said that the captain ordered to submit the list to the camp by 11 March night.

The families of Gachbagan Para who were ordered to be evacuated by the army are- (1) Budhalila Chakma, son of- late Madanya Chakma, (2) Lengpad Chakma, son of- Budhalila Chakma, (3) Forokadhan Chakma, son of- Dinmohan Chakma, (4) Amar Jiban Chakma. Son of- Budhalila Chakma, (5) Pendugulo Chakma, son of- Budhalila Chakma, (6) Batya Chakma, son of- Budhalila Chakma, (7) Punyalal Chakma, son of- Buidhlila Chakma, (8) Nijimuni Chakma, son of- Rabanya Chakma, (9) Bhadang Chakma, son of- Jakka Chakma, (10) Satto Chakma, son of- Mulo Bab Chakma, (11) Thudo Karbari, son of- Murungya Chakma, (12) Sebakya Chakma, son of- Naga Chakma.

The victims are said to have been passing days with great anxiety and panic. They don’t know how get remedy of their difficulties. A source requesting not to be named said that he is even afraid of telling these to anyone.

On the other hand, the families who even after cultivating Jum-farms have been restricted to farm by army are- (1) Tanchangya Chakma, son of- Chintaharan Chakma, village-Thumpara, (2) Chakko Chakma, son of- Birajmohan Chakma, village-Thumpara, (3) Madan Chakma, son of- Gyanalal Chakma, Village-Thumpara, (4) Subimol Chakma, son of- Ramani Kumar Chakma, Village-Thumpara, (5) Dayalal Chakma, son of- Bhagaban Chakma, Village-Thumpara, (6) Budhalila Chakma, son of- late Madanya Chakma, Village-Gashbagan Para, (7) Lengpad Chakma, son of- Budhlila Chakma, Village-Gashbagan Para, (8) Farokadhan Chakma, son of- Dinmohan Chakma, village- Gashbagan Para, (9) Amar Jiban Chakma, son of- Farakdhan Chakma, village- Gashbagan Para, (10) Pendugulo Chakma, son of-Budhalila Chakma, village- Gashbagan Para, (11) Batya Chakma, son of- Budhalila Chakma, village- Gashbagan Para, (12) Punyo Lal Chakma, son of- Budhalila Chakma, Village -Gachbagan Para, (13) Nijimuni Chakma, son of- Rabanya Chakma, (14) Badang Chakma, son of- Jakka Chakma, village- Gash bagan para, (15) Satto Chakma, son of- Mulo Bab Chakma, Village- Gashbagan para, (16) Thudo Karbari, son of- Murungya Chakma, Village- Gash Bagan para and (17) Sebakya Chakma, son of- Naga Chakma, Village – Gashbagan para.

It is laernt that 23 Jumma families are currently living in Gachbagan Para and Thum Para. These Jumma families have been living since 1998, upon signing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord in 1997. Their main means of livelihood is Jum farming. However, in the last 24/25 years, many of them have developed banana plantations, mango-jackfruit plantations, tiger grass plantations. Besides, along with paddy, many people also cultivate ginger, turmeric, sesame, pepper etc.

At present, these Jumma families are known to be in extreme despair due to the army’s obstruction on Jum farming. They expect help from everyone to protect their homes, land and livelihood.

It is reported that on March 8, 2024 at around 3 pm, Bangladesh Army Chief of Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed visited Chaichal army camp by a helicopter. The very next day (March 9), the army personnel from Chaichal camp went to the two villages and conveyed the army chief order to them- – to stop Jum farming and the 12 families of Gachbagan Para have to leave their village.

Army patrol operation, threat to kill cause panic in Bilaichari

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Photo: Symbolic

Hill Voice, 12 March 2024, Rangamati: A group of Bangladesh army was alleged to conduct patrol operation and threaten to shoot to kill some Jummas if they are found at a jumma village of Bilaichari union 1 in Bilaichari upazila under Rangamati hill district, resulted in widespread panic among the people of the area.

According to local source, a group of army numbering 22 personnel led by a subedar of 32 bir from Bilaichari army zone took position at the Bilalichari mon para govt primary school of Dhupyachar ward no. 2 under Bilaichari union no 1, on 11 march 2024, at around 11 am. Just then, while conducting operation, the commander called for the karbari (village head), and taking out a list, the army official mentioned some Jumma names including Saimon, Agamon, Tanbir before karbari.

Afterwards, the army commander inquired about several things including their addresses, their parents locations of that listed Jummas and threatened that they would be shoot to kill once they are found. Under these circumstances, the inhabitants of the area are in great anxieties.

Reportedly, the army group returned to the camp on March 12 around 1 pm after staying overnight at Bilaichari Mon Para Government Primary School.