Bangladesh: Chittagong Hill Tracts Security Watch

[LeonBlack08]

In the last few days, we have been witnessing unrest in the Hill Tracts. This is without a shadow of a doubt instigated by Hasina and Awami League, and also very likely with assistance from Indian Govt.

The reason I am bringing India into the equation is because of the confession of Shantu Larma, who was the leader of the insurgency group Shanti Bahini from 70s to 90s. They openly claimed India had been supporting them in their revolt against the government of Bangladesh.

(Refer to:

https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/world/bangladeshi-insurgents-say-india-is-supporting-them.html)

This notorious insurgency group has killed thousands of Bengalis, including military personnel and other Tribal opponents.

A peace treaty was signed by Hasina govt in 1997, the terms of which BNP did not agree with as it deemed it unpatriotic. Nonetheless, the terms of the treaty has not yet been fulfilled, even though Hasina govt was in power for last decade and a half. Likewise, the insurgency never really stopped as there had been sporadic killings in the Hill Tracts and continued heavy military presence.

Despite the treaty, there had always been discontent amongst the tribes in Hill Tracts regarding Bengalis settling in Hill Tracts.

And now under the deteriorated law and order situation, the insurgents are making a stronger comeback with help of BAL, and possibly Indian government.

Section 144 has been issued in Khagrachari district today banning all sorts of gathering. I believe the situation is going to get worse in the coming days as BAL will utilize CHT insurgents to destabilize Bangladesh and make a comeback to power.

This thread is going to be a master thread for all Chittagong Hill Tracts security related issues.

 

[LeonBlack08]

This is the NY Times article that supports the allegation that India helped the Shanti Bahini insurgents in 70s to 90s.

Bangladeshi Insurgents Say India Is Supporting Them
By SANJOY HAZARIKA, Special to The New York Times
Published: June 11, 1989

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For more than a decade, India has secretly provided arms and money to tribal insurgents fighting for an autonomous state in Bangladesh, rebels given sanctuary in this border area say.

A senior security official here confirmed the assistance and said an undetermined number of rebel fighters had stayed along the border near camps of Indian paramilitary forces.

''The Government is giving them help,'' the official added, without elaborating.

The rebels, who are mostly Buddhists, belong to the Chakma and other tribes in the Chittagong Hills of Bangladesh. They say they are being persecuted and pushed off their fertile land by an influx of ethnic Bengali Bangladeshis, who are overwhelmingly Muslim. Elections Are Planned

President H. M. Ershad of Bangladesh is planning to hold elections on June 25 to give some local autonomy to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, but the Shanti Bahini, the guerrilla organization fighting the Government, has called for a boycott of the vote and declared it will disrupt balloting.

A spokesman for the rebels said Indian officials began to provide arms and money in 1976, after the assassination in a military coup of Sheik Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's first President and a friend of India.

The spokesman, Bimal Chakma, said the Indian Government had not given as many weapons as were needed. ''At the beginning we got some consideration, but it is very low compared with what we need.''

The Shanti Bahini has an estimated 500 guerrillas. Over the years, the insurgents have increased their armory by capturing weapons through raids on Bangladesh military units. The rebels in the Chittagong Hill Tracts also picked up large caches of Chinese semi-automatic weapons during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Past Help for Pakistani Rebels

India also armed, trained and financed ethnic Bengali rebels seeking to break away from Pakistan, of which Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, was a part. The guerrilla attacks escalated into a war between India and Pakistan in 1971 after 10 million people fled military atrocities into India. Pakistani troops were routed and Bangladesh was created.

The Shanti Bahini, which means peace corps in the Bengali language, was formed in 1972 after a rejection of demands for autonomy, preferential treatment and an end to the Muslim influx. The Shanti Bahini says it has killed more than 500 members of the Bangladeshi military and the police as well as Muslim settlers.
'We are not separatists and we do not want armed intervention by India,'' said Mr. Chakma, the rebel spokesman. He said they wanted a stop to Muslim settlers, protection of the region's demographic character, free elections and extensive economic and political powers.

Sudhir Ranjan Majumdar, the Chief Minister or top elected official of Tripura state in northeast India, said the state did not ''harbor any Shanti Bahini, although their political wing is here.''

''We have a foreign mission here to consult with the Indian Government,'' a rebel official said. ''When there are bad combing operations by the Bangladesh army our fighters cross the border for security. They also come on leave from the campaigns.'' An Exodus to India

Since 1986, India has absorbed more than 51,000 refugee tribespeople, nearly 9,000 of them in the last two weeks, as they flee what is said to be military repression in the region. The refugees include supporters of the Shanti Bahini and leaders of the movement's political wing, the Jana Sanghata Samiti or People's Struggle Organization.

Bangladesh is the world's most densely populated region and one of its poorest. Since it was formed, Muslim settlers have been moving from other parts of the country to the lightly populated Chittagong Hill Tracts. The influx has changed the ethnic composition of the place and brought tension and clashes in its wake.

The current population of the Chittagong Hill Tracts is about one million, with nearly 600,000 tribespeople. The rest are Muslim settlers.

Bangladesh has stepped up a bitter army campaign against the Chakmas, sending them fleeing into India several times in the last 17 years. The 1986 exodus was the biggest. Rights Violations Reported

Amnesty International, the human rights organization, has reported serious violations of human rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by Bangladeshi military personnel, including rape, torture and indiscriminate shooting. Recent refugees say the assaults on women, capture of farmland by Muslim settlers and killing of Chakmas is continuing.

The weariness with fighting is showing and the Shanti Bahini held six rounds of talks over the last year with Bangladeshi officials. However, there has been little progress, Mr. Chakma said.

Bangladeshi Insurgents Say India Is Supporting Them - New York Times

 

[Samlee]

Ah Yes!! Shanti Bahini, The BLA Of Bangladesh

 

[LeonBlack08]

At least three people were killed and 17 others injured following arson attacks and violence in Khagrachhari.

The deceased have been identified as Dhananjay Chakma, Rubel Tripura, and Junan Chakma, 20.

They died while undergoing treatment at Adhunik Sadar Hospital.

Ahsan Habib Palash, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Chittagong Range Police, confirmed the incident on Friday.

At around 10:30pm on Thursday, heavy gunfire was heard in several areas of the town, spreading fear throughout the district. The shooting continued late into the night.

Dhananjay Chakma died during the clashes in Dighinala on Thursday evening, while the other two were brought to the hospital from Khagrachhari later that night with injuries.

Ripple Bappi Chakma, resident medical officer (RMO) at Khagrachhari District Hospital, said 15 injured individuals were brought to the hospital late at night, most of them from the town area.

Three of them died, and the cause of death will be confirmed after autopsies. Nine others are currently receiving treatment, he added.

Ripple Bappi Chakma also said that four people were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for better treatment. “There is a Bangali among them. The remaining nine injured belonging to ethnic minorities could be treated at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.”

The attacks followed the death of a Bangali man named Md Mamun. He died in a mob beating following suspicions that he stole a motorcycle in Khagrachhari on Wednesday.

In protest of this incident, Bangali people organized a protest march in Dighinala on Thursday afternoon.

It is alleged that the ethnic minority people attempted to block the march, sparking the clash.

At one point, houses and shops belonging to the group were set on fire, forcing them to flee into the dense hills for safety.

 

[LeonBlack08]

The government has said it is working sincerely to solve the problems created in Khagrachari on Thursday and in Rangamati on Friday, stressing that the government is determined to ensure peace, harmony, and harmony there.

The government is “deeply saddened and distressed” by the ongoing assaults, attacks, and loss of life following the lynching and subsequent death of a person on Wednesday,” said the Chief Adviser’s press wing on Friday.

On Saturday, a high-level delegation of the government headed by Home Adviser Lieutenant Gen (retired) M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury will visit Khagrachari and Rangamati.

The delegation will also consist of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Adviser, Local Government Adviser and Special Assistant to Chief Adviser on Defense and National Integration Development.

The law enforcement agencies have been directed by the government to exercise maximum restraint and ensure the safety of all the people living in the three hill districts.

The government has urged all not to take the law into their own hands and not to engage in destructive activities.

“Taking the law into one's own hands and destroying any property is a punishable and punishable offense,” said the press wing in a message.

The government said a fair investigation of all incidents related to violence and prosecution of those responsible will be ensured.

“A strong investigation committee will be constituted soon for this purpose. The concerned authorities have been instructed to ensure proper treatment of the injured,” said the government.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/359128/govt-working-sincerely-to-control-situation-in

 

[Circadian Rhythm]

That area along with Arakan Rakhine area will be a new problem for Bangladesh

 

[Vikramaditya1]

We have an opportunity to do the funniest thing right now.

 

[LeonBlack08]

We have an opportunity to do the funniest thing right now.

Any funny business will further deteriorate India-Bangladesh relations and possibly take it to the point of no return.

Also, subsequent Bangladeshi governments can also feel justified to conduct funny business in the Seven Sisters of India. I am sure China will be more than happy to lend a hand.

 

[Bengal71]

Any funny business will further deteriorate India-Bangladesh relations and possibly take it to the point of no return.

Also, subsequent Bangladeshi governments can also feel justified to conduct funny business in the Seven Sisters of India. I am sure China will be more than happy to lend a hand.

That funny business in seven sisters, India is really asking for it. We should oblige.

 

[bengalcdn]

That funny business in seven sisters, India is really asking for it. We should oblige.

These RSS nut jobs have gone rabid. I don’t want to see violence anywhere but if RSS govt in India starts supporting violence in BD then we should work with China to start supporting ULFA and other rebel groups.

 

[LeonBlack08]

That funny business in seven sisters, India is really asking for it. We should oblige.

Unleash The man, the myth, the legend



Joking aside, any Indian interference in CHT will ensure BD permanently moving to an anti Indian camp, even at the expense of potential economic benefits of neighbourly relationship with India.

 

[LeonBlack08]

Law enforcement agencies already started operations to hunt down insurgents.



Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) busted an alleged den of insurgents and recovered a huge amount of arms, ammunition, drones, and advanced technology equipment from a hilly, remote area along the Bandarban border on Thursday (19 September).

Based on an intelligence report, it was revealed that a group of hilly insurgents had allegedly established a hideout deep in the jungles of the remote Dopanichhara area near the border of Ruma upazila of Bandarban.

Promoted by it, a special operation was conducted by the BGB's Ruma Battalion (9 BGB), led by Lt Col Hasibul Haque. The operation took place some 5.5 kilometres southeast of the border.

During the operation, the BGB discovered a variety of advanced technology equipment and weapons at the alleged insurgents' hideout.

The items included two automatic carbine assault rifles, one semi-automatic assault rifle, three submachine guns, 21 rounds of live ammunition, one advanced drone, one advanced signal jammer, one audio or video recorder, one video camera, one tech-based button camera for intelligence gathering, one hidden video recorder device, one binocular, two walkie-talkies, one laptop, two powerful lights, one solar system, one satellite TV receiver, one umbrella, two Android phones, two feature phones, various sharp local weapons, Bangladeshi liquor, one helmet, and cooking materials.

Moreover, observation posts, trenches, a temporary armory, rest-house, and a cookhouse were found at the site, all of which were completely destroyed.

BGB busts 'insurgent den', recovers huge arms, ammos in Bandarban

Based on an intelligence report, it was revealed that a group of hilly insurgents had allegedly established a hideout deep in the jungles of the remote Dopanichhara area near the border of Ruma upazila of Bandarban

www.google.com

 

[Vikramaditya1]

Any funny business will further deteriorate India-Bangladesh relations and possibly take it to the point of no return.

Also, subsequent Bangladeshi governments can also feel justified to conduct funny business in the Seven Sisters of India. I am sure China will be more than happy to lend a hand.

We can't stand by and watch if things go into a refugee crisis again.

As for you messing around. It'll only make matters worse for you. Mainland India, is the driving force of India as long as those regions work ahead the North East issues is a blip on the screen that's not the case with BD. Do you want hostile neighbours on all sides?

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

.
Remember this guy? Omar Faruk Tripura. Not a single perpetrator was arrested for slaughtering him. Why? Because this might create unrest in hill tracks.
.
This isn't how you handle criminals. Just allow local bengalis, Muslim Tripuras and Chakmas to carry arms. Every hill tracks problem will be solved with minimal life loss and investment.

 

[Strider]

A timely and very important thread.

The Chakmas are an intelligent people. They do not talk to everyone. They only talk to people who they believe are open-minded. So to have a real conversation with them, it is important to have an open mind.

Despite the treaty, there had always been discontent amongst the tribes in Hill Tracts regarding Bengalis settling in Hill Tracts.

This is just one of their grievances. There is context to be added here too.

To get a real understanding, we have to go way back.

Back in the day, they even had their own king. They had a palace once which is now submerged under Kaptai Lake. Word is that the Chakma people were supposed to receive compensation from the then Government of Pakistan. But this promise never materialized for reasons unexplained.

Fast forward to the war of 1971, there were were a certain ratio of Chakmas who supported the West Pakistani military's operations in the then East Pakistan in the hopes of perhaps getting the promised compensation along with other benefits. A carrot on a stick approach. That never materialized for reasons we now know. It is estimated that Shanti Bahini were created shortly after the war.

In post independence Bangladesh under the leadership of Bongubondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Chakmas were seen with great suspicion due to their support of the West Pakistanis. Even going as far as saying 'tui Bangali ho!'

During the leadership of Ziaur Rahman, he settled Bengalis into the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. Lands were taken. While the Chakmas protested these settlement efforts, the BNP pushed even more. This created much discontent among the Chakmas. It was during this period when the insurgency was most intense.

Now, I believe the IG can resolve this peacefully while keeping the law & order. This should not be too difficult. We just need to keep an open mind.