DHAKA: Tension escalated when approximately 40,000 Chakmas and Tripuris rallied in Khagrachari for the “March for Identity,” following recent attacks on their communities. Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), reported that the Bangladesh Army allegedly supported the destruction of Chakma shops and homes in Dighinala Sadar, leading to the complete displacement of Chakma residents in the area.
Chakma emphasised that this violence highlights the increasing insecurity faced by indigenous groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs), which are home to various tribal communities, including the Marma, Tripuri, and others. He stated that the lack of safety for the Chakmas will be brought to the attention of international organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council.
In response to the unrest, local authorities have imposed a curfew in Rangamati starting at 1:30 PM on September 20 to maintain order and prevent further incidents. The situation remains tense as the indigenous communities seek justice and protection amid growing fears for their safety.
Rising Violence Against Minorities in Bangladesh: Media Misrepresentation and Community Struggles
In recent weeks, violence against minority communities in Bangladesh has escalated, yet prominent media outlets are framing these incidents as mere “ethnic clashes” rather than acknowledging the underlying religious motivations. Reports indicate that the attacks on Chakmas and Tripuris, who primarily belong to Buddhist and Hindu communities, were exclusively perpetrated by Muslim mobs. Notably, a Buddhist temple was also set ablaze during these assaults, raising concerns about the targeted nature of the violence.
Critics argue that the Bangladeshi media is attempting to downplay the severity of these attacks, which have been characterized as “fake,” “exaggerated,” or “politically motivated” in the wake of the controversial ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Since her removal, there have been over 205 reported attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses, highlighting a troubling trend of increasing violence against religious minorities.
In a particularly alarming incident, a Hindu boy named Utsab Mandal narrowly escaped lynching by a Muslim mob in Khulna, accused of “blasphemy.” Additionally, reports have surfaced of Muslim students pressuring around 60 Hindu educators and officials to resign from their positions, further illustrating the systemic discrimination faced by the minority community.
Human rights activist and exiled blogger Asad Noor has revealed that members of the minority community are being coerced into joining the radical group Jamaat-e-Islami. The situation reached a new low on September 6, when a procession of Hindu devotees carrying a murti of Bhagwan Ganesha was attacked in Chittagong, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and intervention to protect vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.
