Guwahati, Nov 11: The Global Association for Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (GAIPC) has urged the Bangladesh government to make public the findings of an inquiry report on the violent attacks against indigenous communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs), which occurred on September 19-20.
These attacks, reportedly involving illegal settlers and the Bangladesh Army, resulted in the deaths of four indigenous individuals—Dhana Ranjan Chakma, Junan Chakma, Rubel Tripura, and Anik Chakma. Additionally, over 75 Jumma people sustained serious injuries, while 142 homes, shops, Buddhist temples, and other properties were reportedly looted, destroyed, or set on fire.
In response to these events, the Chittagong Divisional Commissioner formed a seven-member inquiry committee, led by Mohammad Nurullah Noori, to investigate the incidents and report back by October 10. The commission conducted site visits on September 30 in Rangamati and on October 2 at Larma Square Bazar, Dighinala, to assess the damages and gather information. GAIPC’s call for transparency reflects the community’s demand for accountability and justice for the affected indigenous populations.
The inquiry committee was tasked with identifying the root causes of the violent incidents in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs), listing the affected victims, assessing their losses, and providing recommendations to prevent future violence. However, there has been no public update on the committee’s findings or its report, which has raised concerns among indigenous rights advocates.
Arunabha Chakma, co-convenor, GAIPC, highlighted the targeting of indigenous non-Muslim communities—including Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians—during the September attacks.
Expressing frustration, Chakma noted, “No public statement has been made regarding the status of the Inquiry Commission report … This does not bode well for transparency, accountability, and rehabilitation of the affected persons in these organized attacks.”
Samapti Chakma Borgne, a GAIPC founding member based in France, criticized the interim government for following what she described as a pattern of impunity regarding human rights violations in the CHTs.
She cited the 1992 Logang massacre as an example, where a commission of inquiry led by Justice Sultan Hossain Khan was established, yet its findings remain undisclosed over three decades later.
Suhas Chakma from the GAIPCHT called on Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Mohammed Yunus, to release the inquiry commission report on the September 19-20, 2024 attacks on indigenous communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs).
He stressed that transparency and accountability are essential to addressing such severe human rights violations, adding, “If Dr. Yunus’s government does not make the recent inquiry commission report public, we shall be raising the issue with the United Nations and other international actors to expose the hypocrisy of Dr. Yunus.”
The GAIPCHT was formed in response to the violent incidents in September and has since expanded, establishing branches in multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, China, and India. This network aims to bring global attention to the plight of indigenous communities in the CHTs and advocate for accountability and justice at both national and international levels.
