Hill Voice, 17 July 2025, Chittagong: Today, Thursday, 17 July 2025, at 11:00 AM, a protest rally and demonstration were organized by indigenous students at the Shaheed Minar premises of Chittagong University (CU). The protest was held in response to the recent gang rape of an indigenous student in Bhaibonchara of Khagrachari district and to demand exemplary punishment of the perpetrators.

Speakers at the rally included Annesh Chakma, President of the Chittagong hill tracts Hill Students’ Council (PCP), CU unit; Sathuaung Marma, Organizational Secretary of the Bangladesh Marma Students’ Council, CU unit; Ahmed Mugdho, Organizer of the Biplobi Chatra Maitree, CU unit; Nayon Tanchangya, Assistant Secretary for Publicity and Publications of the Bangladesh Tanchangya Students’ Welfare Forum, CU region; and university student Singyipru Marma among others.

Annesh Chakma said, “We are living in a reality where even in one’s own home, there is no guarantee of safety for our mothers and sisters. A few days ago, an indigenous teenage girl was gang-raped, and afterwards, the survivor didn’t even have the courage to inform her own family. This culture of fear has now seeped into our minds, and the responsibility lies with the legal and judicial systems, as well as the indifference of the administration in such cases. The continued violence against indigenous Jumma women and children in the hills is the part of a broader agenda of ethnic cleansing. In the face of this harsh reality, the student community must recognize its duty. For the safety of Jumma women and children in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), a permanent solution to the region’s problems is essential. Therefore, the implementation of the CHT Accord is extremely urgent.”

Sathuaung Marma said, “Incidents such as rape, abduction, murder, and killing have been occurring against indigenous people in the CHT for a long time. In the aftermath of these incidents, the administration often plays the role of a silent spectator. By failing to ensure justice even in cases like rape, the authorities are effectively legitimizing these crimes. We believe these actions are part of a state-designed blueprint aimed at evicting indigenous people from their ancestral lands and erasing their existence.”

Ahmed Mugdho said, “Persecution of indigenous women is nothing new to us. Not long ago, we had to demand justice for the murder of a Khiyang woman. Although we still hope for justice under the law, the reality is that this state has little regard for law and justice. As a result, we continue to witness mob violence and the oppression of women both in the hills and in the plains. Despite the active participation of indigenous peoples in the July uprising, we have yet to see any meaningful change in their fate.”

Singyipru Marma said, “The safety of indigenous women is becoming increasingly fragile day by day. Even in the CHT today, an indigenous woman no longer has the freedom to move about independently on her own land. Although there have been protests over the years against the oppression of women and children in the hills, it is unfortunate that in most cases, justice has not been served.”

Nayon Tanchangya said, “Today, we are witnessing incidents of rape and post-rape killings not only in the CHT but across Bangladesh. Yet, the government has taken no effective measures to address this crisis. With the backing of the ruling powers, Bengali settlers in the CHT have been oppressing and persecuting indigenous Jumma people for decades—most of these incidents have remained beyond the reach of justice.”

After the protest rally, a demonstration march was brought out. The march began at the Shaheed Minar premises, passed by the administrative building, and concluded back at the Shaheed Minar.

The protest rally and demonstration were conducted by Jallang Enriko Kubi, Assistant Organizational Secretary of Rendezvous Shilpigosthi, CU, and were presided over by Dhanaranjan Tripura, President of the Tripura Student Forum–Bangladesh, Chittagong Metropolitan Branch.