Over 17 houses belonging to the Christian community were set ablaze in the Bandarban district of the Chittagong Hill tracts, Bangladesh, a day before Christmas. The arson attack occurred while the residents were away attending Christmas prayers at a nearby church. The perpetrators took advantage of the deserted settlement to carry out the act, leaving families devastated and homeless during the festive season.
Property Losses Estimated at Over 15 Lakh Taka
The Christian community has reported that the damages from the fire exceed 15 lakh Bangladeshi taka. Upon receiving information about the incident, the police promptly visited the scene but noted that no formal complaint had been lodged by December 25 afternoon. Authorities assured the victims that action would be taken once an official complaint was filed.
Historical Dispute Over Land Ownership
The affected families, 19 in total, belong to the Tripura community and were residing in an area called SP Garden in Lama Sarai, Bandarban. This land, previously known as Tongjhiri Para, was reportedly taken over by Benazir Ahmed, a senior official in the Hasina government. Ahmed’s family renamed it SP Garden.
After August 5, Benazir Ahmed and his family vacated the area, leading the Tripura families to move into the settlement. The arson attack took place on Christmas Eve when the families had left their homes for prayers, leaving the settlement unguarded.
Members of the Christian community claim the land rightfully belongs to them. They allege that the area was historically their settlement before Ahmed’s people seized it.
Threats and Unaddressed Complaints
Gangamani Tripura, one of the victims, revealed that the community had been facing threats since November 17. According to him, individuals demanded a significant sum of money for the families to continue living in the area. Despite filing a complaint against 15 individuals, including one Stephen Tripura, at Lama Police Station, no action was taken.
“We received repeated warnings to vacate the area, but we had nowhere else to go,” Gangamani said. “Now, with our homes burnt to ashes, we are forced to live under the open sky. Everything we owned is gone.”
The incident has left the affected families without shelter, forcing them to endure the harsh winter nights without basic amenities. Community members are calling for justice and urgent intervention to address their plight.
The arson attack has once again brought attention to the ongoing tensions and land disputes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where marginalised communities, including ethnic minorities, often face threats and violence. While the authorities have assured action, the lack of prior response to complaints has raised serious concerns about the safety and rights of minority communities in Bangladesh.
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