History of Bengali Settlers in CHT

1. ABOLITION OF CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS ACT 1900

The abolition of special status in 1964 opened up the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) to outsiders. Bengali Muslim families started settling there in numbers large enough to alarm the Jummas, who felt that it was official government policy to outnumber them on their own land. Grounds for this fear could be seen in the industries like Kaptai hydroelectric power station, Chandraghona paper mill whose founding in the CHT coincided with the influx of Bengali Muslims who were given preferential employment.

2. SECRET MEETING

Eight years after the independence of Bangladesh, President Ziaur Rahman presided at a secret, mid 1979 meeting during which it was decided to settle 30,000 Bangladeshi families during the following year. The importance of the meeting was emphasized by the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Jamaluddin, Home Minister Mustafizur Rahman, the commissioner of the Chittagong division and the deputy commissioner of the CHT. A sum of Taka 60 million was allocated to the scheme, but the budget heading under which this state money was provided was not disclosed. As a result of the meeting, implementation committees, made up of government officers and leading Bangladeshi settlers, were formed at district and sub divisional levels. The district commissioner headed the district committee and sub divisional officers the sub divisional committees. The committees appointed agents from among the Bangladeshi settlers and assigned them to contact land less Bangladeshis willing to settle in the CHT. These were not hard to find and from February 1980 truckloads of poor Bangladeshi families poured into the CHT attracted by the government scheme to provide five acres of land, Taka 3,600 to each new settler family. According to USAID in July 1980, the government decided to resettle 100,000 Bangladeshis from the plains in the CHT in the first phase of this scheme.

3. GOVERNMENT SPONSORED MIGRATION

From the government's viewpoint the settlement plan was successful from the start. By 1980 the Feni valley which borders on Tripura contained about 18,000 Bangladeshi families and roughly 1,500 Jumma families. There are now even fewer Jumma people left and those who remain are eager to leave. Myani valley in the northern part of the CHT contains 40,000 indigenous people and about 10,000 Bangladeshis, a large number of whom arrived in the valley in 1980. In Chengi valley the Bangladeshi settlements received 1,500 families between 1978 and 1980. By the same date there were 1,000 Bangladeshi families at Kaptai and 5,000 families in Rangamati sub-division of which 3,500 families alone settled at Kalampati. In the southern part of the CHT, the Lama thana had about 3,000 Bangladeshi families and even more were settled at Nakyangchari. In Rangamati town, in 1980, the Jummas were accounted for about 30 per cent of the population. The Bangladesh Government initially denied its settlement program, however in May 1980 the government confirmed its policy towards the Chittagong Hill Tracts and started actively to encourage settlers to move there. A secret memorandum from the commissioner of the Chittagong Division to government officials in other districts stated that it was "the desire of the government that the concerned deputy commissioners will give top priority to this work and make the program a success". During 1980 some 25,000 Bangladeshi families were settled in the CHT. At the same time thousands of Jumma families, dispossessed by the Kaptai dam project in the early 1960s, were still attempting to get some kind of monetary or land compensation. Under the second phase of the plan each land less settler family received five acres of hill land or four acres of mixed land or 2.5 acres of wet rice land. They also received two initial grants of Taka 700 altogether, followed by Taka 200 per month for five months and 24 lb. of wheat per week for six months. In July 1982 a third phase of Bangladeshi settlement was authorized under which a further 250,000 Bangladeshis were transferred to the area.

4. DISPOSSESSION OF JUMMA LAND

The Bangladeshi settlers, with the connivance of the almost totally Bangladeshi administration, have been able to take over land and even whole villages. There is a severe population pressure on land in Bangladesh generally and Jumma land had been regarded as readily available. One excuse often given for allowing or encouraging this immigration is the relatively low population density in the CHT. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had noted that "the Chittagong Hill Tracts are relatively less crowded than the plains of Bangladesh. Because of this difference in population densities, there has for some time been a migration from the crowded plains to the hills". In 1967, a study commissioned by Dhaka, however concluded that "as far as its developed resources are concerned, the hill tracts is as constrained as the most thickly populated district... The emptiness of the hill tracts, therefore is a myth". Only 5 per cent of land outside forest reserves is suitable for intensive field cropping. In spite of the shortage of farming land in the tracts, the government has succeeded in attracting many thousands of land less Bangladeshis. To be land less in Bangladesh is to be absolutely poor and dependent. Jobs are seasonal, insecure, and pay is enough for subsistence only. An agricultural labourer receives about five Takas a day when he is working and is usually unemployed for about six months of the year. For the overwhelming majority of Bangladesh's rural population there is little hope to escape from constant poverty. The settlement plans offer an opportunity which no land less or poor Bangladeshi family can ignore. The land however unarable, and the money and food grants, however depleted by corrupt officials, can mean survival for six months or more for poor Bangladeshi peasants. The Bangladeshi peasants who move to the Chittagong Hill Tracts come principally from the plains districts of Chittagong, Noakhali, Sylhet and Comilla, and have no experience of hill slope cultivation. When they find they cannot make a living from the land they have been given they encroach on Jumma owned land. There were various ways in which the Jumma people have been, and still are being dispossessed of their lands. In many cases, Bangladeshi settlers move into an area and gradually encroach on the lands of their Jumma neighbours. A Chakma refugee from Panchari describes the initial process as follows:

" In 1980-81 the Bengalis moved in. The government gave them rations of rice etc. and sponsored them. The settlers moved into the hills, then they moved the Jummas by force with the help of the Bangladesh Army. The Deputy Commissioner would come over and say that this place was suitable for settlers so Jumma people must move and would receive money in compensation. But in reality they did not get money or resettlement. In 1980 the Jumma people had to move by order of the government".

Attacks on Jumma peoples' villages are the most common way to evict the inhabitants from their lands. A Tripura refugee in India from Bakmara Taindong Para near Matiranga described what happened to his village in 1981 when the settlers moved into his village:

"Muslims from different parts of Bangladesh were brought in by Bangladeshi authorities. Before that our village was populated only by Chakma, Tripura and Marma. With the assistance of the government these settlers were rehabilitated in our village and they continued to give us troubles..they finger at the Jummas and the army beats them and rob. They took all the food grain. Whenever we seek any justice from the army we don't get it. All villagers lived under great tension due to various incidents all around. Three days after an incident when six persons had been killed, just before getting dark, many settlers came to our village, shouting 'Allah Akbar' (Allah is Great). When they arrived we escaped so the settlers got the opportunity to set fire".

A Chakma refugee in Tripura told what happened to his village in 1986:

"I lost my land. Settlers came and captured my land. They burnt our houses first. They came with soldiers. This took place on 1st May 1986 at Kalanal, Panchari. My house was in a village with a temple. The whole village of 60 houses was burnt. After seeing this we ran through the jungles and eventually reached India, coming to Karbook camp."

The following interview refers to events which took place on 21 November 1990:

"Muslim settlers wanted to take us villagers to a cluster village (concentration camp), but we refused to go there. The villagers were beaten up by the Muslim settlers of which three families managed to escape, one of which is mine. These three families came to Kheddarachara for 'jhum' cultivation. We stayed there for one and a half years. The day before yesterday the Muslim settlers came to the same village and rounded up the households. The settlers were accompanied by Bangladeshi soldiers. I took shelter in a nearby latrine when the villagers were rounded up. Later I tried to leave the latrine to go somewhere else. The village had been surrounded. As I was trying to escape, the Muslim settlers shot me. It was a singled barreled shot gun. The incident took place in the early morning around 6 o'clock. After getting the bullet injury I ran away into a safe place. I don't know what happened to the other villagers. I ran away from the place for about half a mile. Then I fainted and lost consciousness. Two refugees went there to collect indigenous vegetables and brought me to the camp about 10 o'clock. I have been twice attacked to be taken to a cluster village, the second time I was shot."

Violence, intimidation and arson are the main methods used by the both the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladeshi settlers to force the hill people to leave their villages. Entire villages have been forced to flee from their lands.

5. SETTLEMENT IS A POLITICAL ACT

Landlessness is on the increase in Bangladesh in general. Land ownership has become increasingly concentrated and now 10 per cent of the population owns 50 per cent of available land. There has been no will on the part of any Bangladeshi government to assist land less labourers or marginal farmers anywhere in the country. Indeed organizations of land less people are often put down with the utmost brutality by hoodlums hired by local landlords, the police, the army, or by all three. The government's power rests with the middle and upper classes in the urban areas and with rich farmers. The Bangladeshi poor will seize any survival chance they are presented with. Illiterates have limited horizons and they are not fully aware that the government's scheme to settle them in the CHT is not essentially an attempt to improve their lot. It is a political act to nullify the question of Jumma peoples' rights of self determination by increasing the number of Bangladeshis in the CHT to majority.

6. SETTLERS USED AS CANNON FODDER

The Pakistani government instituted a settlement plan in the Feni valley bordering India because it distrusted the Jumma people living there. Bangladeshi governments have similarly used poor Bangladeshis against the Jumma people as cannon fodder. There seems to be a determination to destroy Jumma society and if necessary the Jumma people. Illiterate Bangladeshi peasants who, under this scheme move to the CHT, know nothing of the Jumma situation. All they know is that the government has given them land and is prepared to assist or at least to turn blind eye to encroachment on Jumma land.

7. GOVERNMENT'S CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT

The government argument is that settlement in the CHT is necessary because much of the land there is uncultivated and therefore in their view wasted. Furthermore Dhaka maintains that "it would be against the constitution to prevent any Bangladeshi from settling or buying land in any part of the country". This argument takes little account of the economic or political realities of the CHT, where little of the land is suitable for farming and where the traditional owners are coerced into giving up their property. As an example India could have used the same argument in the Muslim majority state of Kashmir, where most of the land like the CHT is empty. By settling people from overcrowded part of the country to Kashmir India could have altered the demographic profile of Kashmir from Muslim majority to Hindu majority state. But Indian constitution forbids settlement in areas like Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram etc, because of their distinct cultural, religious and ethnic background.

8. WIDER POLITICAL OBJECTIVE

A direct result of the settlement scheme works to wider political advantage of Dhaka. The conflict between the poor Bangladeshis and the Jumma people for a tiny proportion of the total land distracts attention from the general situation of landlessness in Bangladesh. In the CHT, this struggle has polarized the Bangladeshis and the Jumma people. The Bangladeshi settlers, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Army and Police harass the Jumma people. Civil suits taken out by Jumma people have increased substantially but, since the judiciary is manned mainly by the Bengali Muslim officials, they have been unsuccessful. Resulting from this, Jumma families have been forced to leave their homesteads and become land less.

http://www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/settlers.html[more detail]

Lake of thousand tears

Chittagong Hill Tracts

“Chittagong Hill Tracts” is consisted three hill distracts such as Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Banderban in north – east of Bangladesh with living eleven ethnic groups since immemorial and ethnically they are Mongolian and lawfully these areas considered as indigenous peoples inhabitants. The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) occupies a physical area of 5.093 sq. miles (13,295 sq.km), constituting ten per cent of the total land area of Bangladesh. Seven main valleys formed by the Feni, Karnafuli, Chengi, Myani, Kassalong, Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers.

Fate and hope of indigenous peoples

“No wind blowing on the hill.

And no bird chirping-

Instead of bullets shooting-

And shouting, screaming, fulfill.

No places for them to escape.

Houses, shelters burnt to ashes”.

In CHT (chittagong hill tracts) around long ninety eight years (1900 – 1997) there has been practicing oppression constitutionally by the system of Government. The fates of indigenous people circulating restlessly in this handmade chain or bound for long and long. The duration is first West Pakistan, British and after then an independent Bangladesh, in this way indigenous people’s fates stilly going ahead as time does by. In 1900 British rule, conspiracy starts setting up “CHT Regulation Right”, secondly Pakistan oppression and after becoming independent Bangladesh, “Peace Accord” in 1997 becomes ordeal to all indigenous people The “Peace Accord” held between then ruling government Awami League and PCJSS (Parbortyo Chattagram Jana Shanghoti Samati) leader Santu Larma (leader of peace fighter) at Khagrachari, every one took long breath of peace through the implementation of “Peace Accord”. But it was like showing old finger, which had been shown to all indigenous people But it was not implemented fully and many of claims of PCJSS had not been implemented by the then ruling government.

Through passing those periods how many often their (indigenous people) blood, sweat together mixed with Karnafuli, Chengi, Myani, Kassalong, Sangu rivers that made water turbid. But indigenous people have been fighting for years to years and era to era to save their culture, tradition, and their own right. The man who are cultivating, fighting in jungle for living well but in presence their fate is too far from them. They have thousand questions address to the government regarding their right, existence. Question is unable to answer of their thousand questions, and to them lot, fate, hope, peace, is dream wither which will ever comes true or not, they don’t know. But they are now yet waiting for a new day when nothing as genocide, massacre, rape, brutal violence, destruction on religion will be happened. They never want to loss their son, father, mother, and sister more. In the passage of indigenous people in CHT there have been happened many genocide incidents and rapes, and many of the incidents have been happened by helping of the Army those are working at chittagong hill tracts as special weapon of government which duty is to destroy indigenous people.

The problems of CHT are mainly land, which is why many incidents happening at there between two communities such as Chakma, and Bangali (refugee).

19, 20, 23 February’10 Tragedy

Many of the incidents held before and presently happening on in CHT between two communities particularly such as Chakma and Bangali. In this case many of them lost their family, father, mother, offspring and their land and on the other hand many of women have been abducted.

Like those incidents there has recently been happened on 19, 20, at Baghaihat and 23 at Khagrachuri, which has taken top place of every newspaper and media in the Bangladesh. In this conflict a lot of blood and tear flooded and mixed into read river water.

“Mother died in front of her Children and house burnt too”(a tragic indecent)

[It was almost afternoon 11am, after taking lunch with her offspring and hastily having closed doors of house, she started to run to find out a shelter. But unfortunately while crossing area of house she was hurt by a bullet and she fell down upon the soil.

This mother died of shooting bullet, name is Buddhapudi Chakma, she was died on 21 feb2010 through shooting bullet by Army in the incident of Baghaihat, was living with her childs at Baghaihat, sub-district of Baghaichuri of Rangamati. Her husband is Uttam Chakma, they have three childs are Suneeta Chakma, Jewel Chakma, and Rupana Chakma. Uttam Chakma (her husband) was not present at this time.

“ She was worried much with us and father, before closing eyes for good,

she said us to give the news of her death to father and said us to run away… and go to the shelter, I am dying”

said to Suneeta when her mother was dying…. Suneeta also said two bangalies burnt their house in front of Army at this time.]

Land Problem as a main Problem

But in true, we are loosing everything by and by – our land, culture, tradition etc, this news is not a recent that we have been hearing it for long long years, the beginning of distress to us started from having British colonized in the sub-continent. But what they had oppressed to us in those times is not more than we have been facing after independent of Bangladesh.

I strongly say, our culture, tradition, mother tongue and our songs included in our blood, face and word. The civil war against state government is about one era has been happening at CHT for making peace and stopping genocide, violence, rape, racism and communal affrays. But till now, nothing implemented there, rather happening communal melees between indigenous people and bangali(refugee), none come close to us and no any series elected government instead we seen many tragic incidents in where mother lost her children and someone lost their parent. Now their mouth is dumb, eyes lost its sight in cause of crying as running stream. Everyday sun rises in east and set in west but to them life is full of dark and anxiety.

Background of Conflicts:

As we know the conflicts in CHT – genocide, rape, army torture and communal affray have been happening exactly after independent of Bangladesh. In CHT “Land Problem” is the major problem that causing other problems; but on this subject, nobody takes it in care, as result of their careless, peoples sacrificing life and bloody incidents happing on.

Land problem of Chittagong Hill Tracts is supposed to be key of other problems occurring that enlarged political restless condition and spreading scandal of the country as anti-human right country. Land right of indigenous people is customary right that is anciently or traditionally recognized. Through analyzing one half years history of past having CHT recognized as a district, we have seen the conspiracy practiced over to Jumma (hilly) peoples to occupy their land and inference of indigenous peoples land occurred in 1870 through proclaiming Chittagong Hill Tracts as persevered forest area.

In British period, entrance of non-indigenous people from out of CHT, had been controlled strictly and those who are non-locals, can not belong to the land. According to the Act – 52 of Regulation in 1900, “Inter Line System” was practiced till in 1930. As a result of that on-locals were needed to make permission for entering to Chittagong Hill Tracts. In the act – 311 of the constitution of 1935 established by British Parliament to dominate India; there is given description of indigenous people area and the chapter 3, lesson no 91 and 92 in where depicted about CHT as out of dominated area in British period. As a result of that Chittagong Hill Tracts was not dominated in British period. In 1947 after born two countries – Pakistan and India, then CHT was included in East Pakistan (present Bangladesh) Pakistan set up new constitution first in 1956.

According to the constitution of 1935, government gave privilege to non- advanced area people (Chittagong Hill Tracts) before Pakistan period and these privileges were kept in continuing having set up new constitution in Pakistan time and Pakistan constitution set up secondly in 1962. According to the new second constitution, CHT was out of domination area moreover, later, in 1963 constitution of Pakistan had been amended including Chittagong Hill Tracts. According to that constitution in where referred if any changing of CHT is needed that must be accomplished in talking between Pakistan precedent and indigenous people. But except talking they neglected these rules. On the other hand they did not change the CHT regulation for international pressure.

We have seen the Captai hydro electric dam as an example of conspiracy, is set up in 1960 neglecting people opinion. In this region 125 villagers and 161920 acres of land went under water and about 18,000 families faced problems only due to set up the dam at Captai. Probably in the history of CHT, Captai dam was a first strike over the land right in 20^th century. Two-fifth, total land of faddy field went under water i.e. 58,000 acres land went under water permanently, moreover compensation was not enough to those who lost their land.

On the other hand farmers got some indemnity but jummas (who cultivating on hill) got nothing. In chittagong hill tracts internal land problem and settlement of land has been performing since British period but their own rule was failed after independent of Bangladesh through changing Act 34 of 1900 century constitution and later there was started to land allotment for non-locals at bazzer(town) area.

Bangali settlers:

In the late 1970s President Zia sponsored migration of Bangladeshi settlers into the CHT, providing land grants, cash and rations. This programme was not made public at the time, and its existence was denied by the representative of the government. Now the government acknowledges that there was a programme of sponsored migration. Bangladeshi settlers, with the connivance of the almost totally Bengali administration, have been able to take over land and even whole villages from the Jummas. By 1981 the Bangladeshis made up nearly one third of the total population of the CHT. (web collection)

References:

prothagota vumi adhikar bonam parboyto aein o proshason (Proptim Roy Pampu)

prothom alo news paper of Bangladesh reported on 22 feb2010.

Army rape two indigenous Tripura women

Bangladesh army rape 2 indigenous Tripura women in Matiranga of Khagrachari district.

On 9 March 2010, Barun Bala Tripura (30) wife of late Jala Kumar Tripura and Kalpana Tripura (30) wife of late Shashindra Tripura of Shonkhola Para village in Matiranga went to a forest near Toikatang army camp under Matiranga to collect grass to feed cattle. Around 9 am a group of 6 army personnel led by Habib from the camp attacked the women and raped them for 4 hours in the forest. Around 1 pm some indigenous villagers who were passing by the same forest saw the army personnel dragging and pulling the two women. The women screamed for help and the army men were forced to let them go when they saw the villagers.

The camp commander Mehedi was not present in the camp when the incident took place. He went out on a duty to Matiranga bazaar, putting Kamal in charge of the camp. Following the incident, the Matiranga zone commander visited Toikatang camp and called the local village elders to a meeting where he threatened them not to publicize the rape. Ms Renu Bala Tripura, a member of Guimara Union Council, confirmed the incident and accused the army of a cover-up. "The army is putting pressure on the village elders not to publicize the incident." she said.

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http//www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/news/20100304_baghaichari.html[more detail]

Bengali settlers set fire

Bengali settlers set indigenous houses on fire in Baghaichari

On 4 March 2010, at 8.30 pm Bengali Muslim settlers and Bangladesh army set four indigenous Chakma houses on fire at Daine Bhaibachari under Baghaichari in CHT. The owners of the houses were identified as Mr. Dayal Kista Chakma, Mr. Kina Chan Chakma, Mr. Bidya Sadhan Chakma and Mrs. Alo Rani Chakma. The Muslim settlers first burned their two abandoned makeshift houses. Then they proceeded to Daine Bhaibachara along with the Bangladesh army to set the indigenous Chakma houses on fire.

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http://www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/news/20100304_baghaichari.html[more detail]

Bangladesh army detains and tortures indigenous people

Bangladesh army detains and tortures indigenous people in Khagrachari town

On 24 Feb 2010, the Bangladesh Army encircled Khabongpujya and Swanirbar villages and apprehended some indigenous people. The indigenous people of these two villages resisted the attack by the Bengali Muslim settlers on 23 Feb 2010.

Attempts of Attack near CHTDB Rest House

Around 7.00 p.m. a group of Muslim settlers moved toward CHT Development Rest House Area situated on the eastern part of Khagrachari town, where some indigenous families live.

Attempts of Attack at Modhupur

Around 7.30 p.m. another group of Muslim settlers made attempts to raid the Madhupur Village. Owing to p.resence of indigenous volunteers ready to defend the village, they had to retreat from there at that moment.

Attack on Aparna Chowdhury Village of Golabari

Around 8.00 p.m. the Muslim settlers attacked Aparna Chowdhury Village of Golabari, a Marma village situated on the southern part of the Khagrachari town and set some houses on fire.

Muslim settlers search indigenous people on buses at Ranirhat

Muslim settlers searched indigenous people on buses between Rangamati and Chittagong. Whenever situation flares up in the CHT, it's common practice for the Muslim settlers and the Bangladesh army to mete out collective punishment to the indigenous people by torture and extra judicial execution.

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http://www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/news/20100224_khagrachari.html[more detail]

On 19-20 February 2010

Bangladesh Army guns down 6 indigenous people at Baghaichari

Introduction

On 19-20 February 2010, the Bangladesh Army and Muslim settlers attacked indigenous Chakma Buddhists at Baghaihat area of Sajek union under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati district. 6 indigenous people including a woman were killed and 25 villagers were wounded in this attack. Around 200 Chakma homes including a Buddhist temple were completely burnt down.

The Incident

On 19 February 2010 afternoon a group Muslim settlers went to the Gangaram Duar area. The erected pillars on indigenous people's land to construct houses. At that time, the Chakma villagers protested and opposed the Muslim settlers.

Around 8.30 pm hundreds of Muslim settlers under the protection of Bangladesh army gathered at Gangaram Duar and started to set fire on the indigenous houses. At that time, at least 35 houses including 7 shops and a UNDP-run village centre in three villages of Gangaram Duar, Chaminichara and Baluchara were burnt down. The Muslim settlers also looted the valuables while they were torching the houses. The indigenous villagers fled to the jungle when the attack took place.

After the first attack, the villagers returned to their villages the next morning on 20 February and gathered in Gangaram to protest the attack. The Muslim settlers equipped with sharp weapons, machetes and sticks returned to the Chakma village.

Further, tension mounted throughout the area while the Bangladesh army and the Muslim settlers ordered the indigenous people to leave the area, but they refused to comply. At around 10.00 am the Bangladesh army started to indiscriminately beat the indigenous people. In response to the beating, a Chakma villager attacked an army man named Sergeant Rezaul Karim with a traditional Chakma weapon tagol. The Bangladesh army shot him to dead and indiscriminately opened fire on the Chakma Buddhists, leaving at least 6 dead and 25 wounded. The Bangladesh army also arrested three indigenous people.

Since the start of firing, the Muslim settlers with the help of Bangladesh army set fire on indigenous houses at Hajachara, Guchchha Gram, Balughat, Simanachhara, Baipaichhara, Suranganala, Kerekkaba Retkaba, Jarulchhari, Dane Bhaibachhara, Bame Bhaibachhara, MSF Para and Purbapara villages. At least another 160 houses were torched at that time. The Muslim settlers also burnt down a Buddhist temple named Banani Bana Vihar. The Muslim settlers desecrated the images of Lord Buddha. As the Muslim settlers continued the arson attack, the indigenous people began resisting them.

Five of the deads were identified as-

1. Ms. Buddhabati Chakma (34)
2. Mr. Laxmi Bijoy Chakma (30)
3. Mr. Liton Chakma (35)
4. Mr. Bana Shanti Chakma (28)
5. Mr. Nutunjoy Chakma (28)

Some of the injured are-

1. Shanta Shil Chakma
2. Mrittunjoy Chakma
3. Sushil Jibon Chakma (32)
4. Amar Jiban Chakma (30)
5. Mr. Nibesh Chakma (35)
6. Mr. Dari Chakma (40)
7. Jitendra Chakma (35)
8. Mr. Prem Lal Chakma (26)

The dead body of Buddhabati Chakma was brought at Baghaichari police station for postmortem. But the Bangladesh army concealed the dead bodies of other deceased. On 20 February 2010 afternoon the army imposed section 144 in the area to prevent the Chakma Buddhists from organizing demonstrations.

Background of the Incident

The Bangladesh Army undertook plan to settle Muslim settlers along the Sajek road from Baghaichari to Gangaram Mukh in 2005. Thousands of indigenous Chakma Buddhists have been living in this area since the time immemorial. Hence, the Chakma villagers of these areas had been protesting against the illegal settlement programme. Despites the protest, in 2008 the Muslim settlers illegally constructed some houses at Gangaram area on the land owned by the indigenous people. At a stage on 20 April 2008 the Muslim settlers with the direct support of the Bangladesh army attacked 7 indigenous villages and burnt down 76 houses.

Since January 2010, the Muslim settlers with the support of Bangladesh army resumed expansion of their settlement in Sajek area under Baghaichari upazila. The Muslim settlers had erected a number of houses on land owned by the indigenous people.

On 10 January 2010, the indigenous villagers under the banner of Sajek Bhumi Rakkha Committee (Land Protection Committee), submitted a memorandum to the Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer with an ultimatum of 16 January 2010 to return them their lands. As the deadline expired without any fruitful result on 16 January, the indigenous Buddhist villagers started their agitation and started to boycott Baghaihat market from 18 January 2010. On 25 January 2010 the PCJSS sent a letter to the Home Minister with copy to State Minister of CHT Affairs Ministry and other concerned government authorities demanding a stop on settlement prgramme and to withdraw Muslim settlers from Baghaihat area. However, government did not take any measure in this regard.

Mockery of the Muslim settlers

The Muslim settlers and Bangladesh army tried to conceal the real situation. As part of this mockery, the Muslim settlers set fire on few of their own houses which were abandoned beforehand. Even the Bangladesh army played a mock gunfight. At a press conference at Rangamati, the Parbatya Bangalee Chatra Parishad also protested the incident and blamed the indigenous people for it. They declared the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission unwanted in CHT and blamed it for working in favour of the indigenous people.

Media Report

Most of the Bangladeshi news media both electronic and press primarily reported fabricated news. They reported that tribal miscreants opened fire first, clash started since tribal villagers set ablaze settlers’ houses, tribal villagers attacked Bengali settlers etc. For example, the Daily Star in its internet edition on 20 February mentioned the headline of news as “Criminal killed in gunfight with security forces in Rangamati”. However, it replaced later with “2 indigenous men killed as troops open fire in Rangamati”. The Prothom Alo stated it as firing between Paharis and Bangalis. Most of the electronic media aired news in favour of Muslim settlers. Most of the media reflected statement of Bangladesh army authority as well as administration that went against the indigenous peoples.

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http://www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/news/20100219_baghaichari.html[more detail]

Bengali settlers attack indigenous people

Bengali settlers attack indigenous people in Khagrachari town

On 23 February 2010, Bengali Muslim settlers backed by the Bangladesh army attacked indigenous people in the Khagrchari municipality. Around 40 indigenous houses were burnt down and several indigenous people were injured.

The clash broke out around 12.00 noon after a group of Muslim settlers chased a procession of the indigenous people at Shapla Sattwar area of Khagrachari bazaar. The Muslim settlers indiscriminately hit the indigenous protesters.

Then the Muslim settlers made arson attack on Chakma inhabited Mahajan Para. The Bangladesh army dispersed the indigenous people who were trying to prevent the Muslim settlers from setting fire on their houses. Soon after the dispersion of the indigenous people, the Muslim settlers set fire on indigenous houses. At least 7 houses were burnt down.

The Muslim settlers then set fire on indigenous housese at Milanpur, Madhupur and Upali Para where at least 7 houses were burnt down. One of the owners of the houses was identified as Ms Lucky Chakma at Madhupur area. This was followed by Sat Bheiya Para where at least 25 houses were burnt down. Official residence of Ms. Tapasi Chakma a teacher of Khagrachari Government High School was also burnt down. The Muslim settlers also set PCJSS office at Larma Square on fire. The Muslim settlers looted the valuables of the houses before setting them on fire. The Muslim settlers also looted some indigenous houses of Basundhara area. At least 7 injured persons were admitted at Khagrachari hospital while 12 received first aid.

Some Muslim settlers from Matiranga upazila came by 8 jeeps to attack the indigenous people. During the attack, the Muslim settlers assaulted the journalists of Desh TV and broke their cameras when camera crew Dilip Chowdhury and Mongsapru Marma were filming the clashes. The Muslim settlers held Talat Mamun of NTV and Saikat Dewan of Daily Prothom Alo hostage for few hours.

The Muslim settlers also gathered at Dighinala and Panchari in Khagrachari and Kaukhali in Rangamati district to attack the indigenous people.

The administration imposed a 10-hour curfew in Khagrachhari municipality from 9.00 pm in the wake of fresh communal attack. The administration with megaphones asked residents to remain indoors and that if anyone was found outside, they would be arrested and terrorists would be searched door to door.

Update of Baghaihat attack

On 23 February 2010, the Muslim settlers set an MSF primary school on fire. A group of Bangladesh army personnel from Baghaihat zone were patrolling the area during this attack.

More army to be deployed in CHT, says Home Minister

On 23 February 2010, Home Minister Ms. Sahara Khatum said that government would consider, if needed, to deploy more army in CHT. She said that government has enough preparation to combat any evil forces whether they were Shanti Bahini, religious extremist group or any group.

[On 19-20 February 2010, the Bengali settlers backed by Bangladesh army attacked the indigenous people at Baghaichari leaving at least 6 indigenous people dead. The aim of the attack was to drive out the indigenous Chakma Buddhists and grab their land. The Bengali settlers destroyed and desecrated a Buddhist temple. Two Buddhist monks are inspecting the damage.]

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http://www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/news/20100223_khagrachari.html(more detail)

Bengali settlers attack

Bengali settlers attack indigenous people in Jalia Para of Ramgarh

On 14 June 2009 a clash between indigenous villagers and the Muslim settlers occurred at Jalia Para under Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachari district. The Muslim settlers from Jalia Para cluster village have been trying to occupy the land of the indigenous villagers at Baroitali and Hafchari union under Ramgarh upazila. Baroitali is around 8 kms far from Jalia Para cluster village. Very recently on 7 June 2009 the Muslim settlers cleaned the scrubs and erected at least 15 houses. Again on 14 June early in the morning, a group of Muslim settlers numbering around 70 persons went to the area and started to build houses. But the indigenous villagers opposed them to construct houses. At a stage, clash between two groups started and at least 10 Muslim settlers were injured in the clash. They were admitted to Guimara hospital.

Soon after receiving this news, the Muslim settlers of Jalia Para and Guimara indiscriminately attacked innocent indigenous people at Jalia Para on Khagrachari-Chittagong road. Five indigenous Marma rickshaw drivers were beaten by the Muslim settlers at Jalia Para. Among them, two injured rickshaw drivers were identified as Thoihla Prue Marma (35), s/o Aungyajai Marma of Labrechai Headman Para of Guimara union and Apruesi Marma (35), s/o Remrachai Marma of Lubre Para of Guimara.

Dhanadas Tripura (21), s/o Sukumar Tripura of Mahalchari upazila was brutally beaten by a group of Muslim settlers with firewoods and iron rods when he reached there. However, he could narrowly escape. He was seriously wounded. Most of the indigenous villagers of nearby Jalia Para area took shelter into the remote villages fearing further attack.

In 1981-82 the Bangladesh government settled Muslim settlers in Jalia Para. Due to attack from defunct Shanti Bahini, the Muslim settlers were settled near Bangladesh army camps. However, since 2000 Muslim settlers started to occupy indigenous lands with the backing of the Bangladesh army. With this backdrop, on 1 March 2001 Ministry of CHT Affairs (MoCHTA) issued an office order prohibiting expansion of settlement and asking both indigenous and Muslim settlers to maintain status quo until and unless the disputes are resolved by Land Commission to be formed as per CHT Accord.

[On 19-20 February 2010, the Bengali settlers backed by Bangladesh army attacked the indigenous people at Baghaichari leaving at least 6 indigenous people dead. The aim of the attack was to drive out the indigenous Chakma Buddhists and grab their land. Distraught Chakma woman of Baghaihat.]

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http://www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/news/20090614_ramgarh.html

BDR tries to establish market at Ruilui in Sajek to settle Bengalis

BDR tries to establish market at Ruilui in Sajek to settle Bengalis

On 12 June 2009 Commanding Officer from Marishya BDR camp along with El Thanga Pangkhua, Chairman of the Sajek union visited Ruilui area under Sajek union in Baghachari upazila. The main objective of the visit was to establish a market at the area close to the Ruilui BDR camp. Commanding Officer granted Taka 200,000 for setting up the market. 6 shops were constructed since his visit.

The BDR have been trying to establish a market at that area in order to settle more Muslim settlers through out the border areas close to border with India's Mizoram state. The indigenous people of the area have been opposing the establishment of a market at that area.

[On 20 April 2008, the Bengali settlers backed by Bangladesh army attacked and burnt down 76 indigenous houses in Sajek. The aim of the attack was to drive out the indigenous villagers and grab their land. The indigenous victims survey their home after the attack]

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http://www.angelfire.com/ab/jumma/news/20090612_armyactivity.html[more detail]