Indian Chakmas demand export ban
New Delhi, 24.09.2024: Hundreds of the Chakmas held a protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi today against the organised attacks on the indigenous hill tribes on 19-20 September 2024 by the illegal plain settlers and the Bangladesh Army personnel in which at least five indigenous hill people were killed, over 70 were injured and about 200 houses and business establishments of indigenous people were set on fire. The illegal plain settlers and the Bangladesh Army personnel and a section of the Bangladeshi media sought to justify the unprovoked attacks on indigenous peoples over the death of Muhammad Mamun, an alleged motorcycle thief, on 18 September 2024. However, according to the FIR No.19/09/2029 filed by Mukta Akhter, wife of Muhammad Mamun before the Khagrachari Police Station, Muhammad Mamun was murdered by the Muslim settlers led by Mohammed Shakil.
At present, indigenous hill people have been facing isolated and sporadic acts of racial discrimination and acts of violence because of their physical appearance in plain districts of Bangladesh especially in Chittagong, Dhaka and Savar areas in the outskirts of Dhaka where a large number of indigenous peoples work in the Export Processing Zones. It has become impossible for the indigenous peoples to go out in the plain areas.
In their memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chakma leaders stated that on 21 September 2024, three Advisors to the Interim Government of Bangladesh visited the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Adviser Mr AF Hasan Arif, one of the three advisors, in his meeting with the US Embassy’s Charge d’ Affaires in Dhaka blamed “external conspiracies” for the unrest in the CHTs.
“As the organized attacks upon the indigenous peoples on a false pretext were carried out by the illegal settlers and the Bangladesh Army personnel, it is possible that foreign Islamic terrorists are involved in the attacks on the indigenous hill people. The involvement of Pakistan’s ISI and Islamic terrorists cannot be ruled out”. – stated Mr Tejang Chakma, Director of the Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI).
“It is not only the hill tribes but Hindu and other religious minorities have been facing organised attacks under the Caretaker government. On 12 September 2024, the Prothom Alo had reported the attacks and damages to at least 1,090 houses, business establishments and places of worship belonging to the minority communities between 5 and 20 August 2024 after the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.” – stated Mr Rup Singh Chakma, President of the Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union.
“The Government of Bangladesh has not conducted any inquiry into these gross human rights violations. In fact, Dr Mohammed Yunus disgracefully sought to blame their affiliation with the Awami League for the attacks on the Hindus as if political affiliation with any political party can justify such organized attacks on the Hindu and other religious minorities.” – stated Mr Santosh Baburah Chakma, President of the Noida Chakma Welfare and Cultural Society.
“We appreciate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not holding any talk with the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Dr Mohammed Yunus, on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York but it needs to be carried forward further in the light of the seriousness of the attacks. Prime Minister Modi must decide to stop export of essential and industrial products such as food products, fuels and energy products and industrial raw materials including for the garments industry, construction materials etc to Bangladesh until violence against the minorities are addressed and accountability is established in each case of attacks on the religious minorities. Otherwise, Bangladesh will turn into East Pakistan and there shall be no place for indigenous hill people of the CHTs and the religious minorities in entire Bangladesh. These drastic measures are needed in the interest of Bangladesh and its citizens.” – stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Founder of the CDFI.
