Thirteen years have passed, but the 1997 CHT Accord is yet to be implemented by Bangladesh Government. The region is on edge, and there are repeated clashes while Accord in limbo.
1) “This sparked severe violence between the locals and Bengali settlers which continued in waves through the evening. Shops were shut down as fear of widespread ethnic violence spread though the district town.”
2) Asked to comment on JSS allegation that UPDF was behind the attack on Santu Larma, UPDF leader Shanti Dev Chakma said, “This is completely baseless. Mr. Larma made this claim without investigating the matter….Why should we attack him, since he is already dead, politically and ideologically?”
3) “Speakers condemned the recent attacks on Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, Chakma circle chief Raja Barrister Devasish Roy and general secretary of BIPF Sanjeeb Drong.”
4 injured in settler-local clash
Khagrachhari, Jan 31 (bdnews24.com) — At least four people were seriously injured in a clash, spanning several hours, between the indigenous and Bengali settlers in Khagrachhari on Saturday. The clash occurred when a jeep hit a CNG-run autorickshaw. The injured are Shubodh Chakma, 32, Kalachan Marma, 37, Mongeon Marma, 32, and the jeep driver Abdul Wahab, supposedly in his thirties. All four are undergoing treatment at local hospitals. Wahab’s condition is said to be critical. Police and witnesses said that after altercations over the slight accident, goons of one Rafique group beat up the Chakma autorickshaw driver at Pankhaiya Para in the afternoon. In retaliation, Chakma boys beat up Abdul Wahab at Chengis Para at about 8.00pm in the evening.
This sparked severe violence between the locals and Bengali settlers which continued in waves through the evening. Shops were shut down as fear of widespread ethnic violence spread though the district town. At one point Bengalis beat up Mongeon Marma, a civil servant, when he reached the College Gate area by his motor bike. The Bengalis burnt his bike as well. Passers by became panicked when this led to a bout chase and counter chase between groups armed with sticks in that area. Upon receipt of information, officer in charge of the Sadr police station, Shahriar Khan and SI Shubir Datta came to the spot and recovered the motor bike. According to information the entire town was still tense at 11.30pm with visibly beefed up police deployment. Assistant police superintendent (circle) Mohammad Maksedur Rahman said that the situation was under control despite the tension. He acknowledged reports of incidents from different parts of the town.
“We have deployed a high number of police personnel across the town to make sure that the situation remains calm.” The top government executive, Sadr Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Mohammad Rahed Hossain said the clash had been instigated by certain quarters. “We are looking into the entire episode.”
Protest Meetings against attack on top indigenous leaders held in Dhaka and Rangamati
On 30 January 2010 protest meetings and processions against the cowardly attacks on top indigenous leaders in the country namely Santu Larma, Raja Devasish Roy and Sanjeeb Drong were simultaneously held in Dhaka and Rangamati.
In Dhaka, at 11.00 am protest meeting organised jointly by Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF), Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP) and Bangladesh Adivasi Odhokar Andolon (BAOA) was started at the Central Shaheed Minar with information and publicity secretary of PCJSS Mr. Mangal Kumar Chakma in the chair.
Gono Forum presidium member Pankaj Bhattacharya, convenor of Workers Party of Bangladesh (Reconstituted) Haider Akbar Khan Rano, general secretary of Workers Party of Bangladesh leader Anisur Rahman Mallik, leader of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal Bazlur Rashid Firoz, central member of Communist Party of Bangladesh and Dhaka University teachers M M Akash general and secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, assistant general secretary of Bangladesh National Awami League Party (NAP) Ismail Hossain, Dhaka University teachers Muhammad Samad, Saurav Sikdar and Robayet Ferdous, women rights activists Khishi Kabir of Nejera Kori and Rokeya Kabir of Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha, indigenous women rights activists Madhabi Lata Chakma of Parbatya Chattagram Women Association, Rakhi Mrong of BAOA, Chaitali Tripura of BIPF and Tandra Chakma, human rights activists Salam Azad, indigenous rights activists Ajoy A Mree and Sanjeeb Drong, among others, spoke at the protest meeting.
Speakers condemned the recent attacks on the president of BIPF and PCJSS Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, Chakma circle chief Raja Barrister Devasish Roy and general secretary of BIPF Sanjeeb Drong. They urged the government to take stern steps to prevent recurrence of such attacks.
Demanding a proper investigation of the attacks and punishment of the culprits, a protest meeting also accused the government of doing little to protect the members of the ethnic minorities. They said the attack on top indigenous leaders during the Awami League-led government’s regime indicated how vulnerable indigenous peoples are in the country. They appalled the government to find out the perpetrators of such attacks and ensure their punishment.
Speakers also urged the government for early implementation of the CHT Accord and to announce a roadmap towards the implementation of the Accord.
Later, the organisers brought out a procession. Starting from Shaheed Minar, the rally paraded different city streets around Dhaka University campus. Several hundreds representative from indigenous peoples from across the country also joined the protest rally.
In Rangamati, PCJSS brought out procession protesting attack on PCJSS president Santu Larma and Chakma circle chief Raja Devisish Roy from outer stadium in Rangamati to Banarupa. Procession was followed by protest meeting at premises of Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The protest meeting was presided over vice president of PCJSS Laxmi Prasad Chakma while facilitated by assistant information and publicity secretary of PCJSS Sajib Chaknma. Among others, acting general secretary of PCJSS Pranati Bikash Chakma, general secretary of PCJSS Rangamati district branch Bodhi Satta Chakma, general secretary of Rangamati district Women Association Suprava Chakma and president of Hill Students Council (PCP) Udayan Tripura spoke at the meeting.
Speakers of the protest meeting urged the government to ban UPDF soon, to arrest and prosecute those responsible for this attack and to conduct judicial investigation to the attack.
It is mentionable that on 27 January 2010 president of BIPF and PCJSS Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma and Chakma circle chief and former special assistant to caretaker government of Bangladesh came under attack by UPDF miscreants in Mahalchari under Khagrachari district. Earlier on 22 January 2010, Sanjeeb came under attack at Rannikhong in Netrakona district when he was returning from Boheratali Christian Mission riding a motorcycle.
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PCJSS
(Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti)
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“It was not an attack, it was merely a protest” – says a Reformists JSS leader
chtnews.com/News No. 17/2010, January 31, 2010
A top ranking leader of the Reformist faction of the Jana Samhati Samiti has said the alleged attack on Santu Larma on 27 January was actually not an attack; it was merely a popular protest against his destructive policies that keep the intra-Jumma conflict alive.
“People are fed up with his politics of killings and kidnappings. He is responsible for the killing of hundreds of Jumma activists including former General Secretary of the PCJSS and a veteran guerrilla leader, Mr. Chandra Shekhor Chakma.” the Reformist leader told chtnews.com requesting anonymity for security concern. “I don’t fear death, but I think I should be discreet because there is nothing Santu Larma cannot do to eliminate his political opponents.” he added.
He said Mr. Larma had personally ordered his gunmen to shoot and kill Chandra Shekhor Chakma, his long-time aide and comrade-in arm. Chandra Shekhor Chakma was shot and wounded, and died a few months after the shooting incident. His wife filed an attempt to murder case against Santu Larma. However, he has secured bail from the High Court. Larma’s gunmen also shot and wounded Aungshuman Chakma, another JSS leader, and attacked Mintu Chakma, a NGO activist, with sticks and iron rods in Rangamati town.
Asked to comment on JSS allegation that UPDF was behind the attack on Santu Larma, UPDF leader Shanti Dev Chakma said, “This is completely baseless. Mr. Larma made this claim without investigating the matter.”
He asked: “Why should we attack him, since he is already dead, politically and ideologically?”
He said people are genuinely angry with him because scores of innocent people had to suffer because of him. “He is the one who initiated division and conflicts within the Jumma movement and pursued scorched earth policy in his attempt to eliminate UPDF and his political opponents.” Shant said.
