Alleged arson attacks on indigenous minority villages at CHT, Bangladesh

Reported submitted by Kapaeeng Watch.

On 20 April 2008 at mid-night an arson attack was made by newly infiltrated Bengali settlers with the direct support of Bangladesh military forces at Baghaihat area of Sajek union under Baghichati upazila in Rangamati district in CHT.

In this attack, around 76 houses of indigenous Jumma villagers of 7 villages were completely burnt down. It is report that Selim Bahari, President of Baghaichari branch and Golam Molla, President of Baghaihat branch of Equal Rights Movement, an extreme nationalist and fanatic organisation of Bengali settler led the Bengali settlers to conduct this attack with the direct sup[port of military forces of Baghaihat army zone of 33 East Bengali Regiment (2) led by commanding officer Lt. Col. Sajid Imtiaz, Captain Zabaedur Rahman and RP Habilder Harun.

The following list of indigenous Jumma villagers whose houses were burnt down prepared by three members of Sajek union, namely, Kalachoga Chakma, Swapanika Chakma and Jotsna Chakma are as follows:

Daine Baibachara village including Shanti Mamber Para and Kachu Adam:

1. Bimal Kanti Chakma



2. Shanti Bikash Chakma(1)



3. Nayan Ranjan Member



4. Brisha Muni Chakma



5. Chiringo Chakma



6. Subhanga Chakma



7. Dayal Kista Chakma



8. Kina Chan Ckakma



9. Shyamal Kanti Chakma



10. Pratilata Chakma



11. Shanti Jiban Chakma



12. Gobinda ChakmaSubolya



13. ChakmaKala Kachu Chakma



14. Jyosna Rani Chakma (Member)



15. Rabi Shankar Chakma



16. Rupayan Master



17. Shakya Bodhi Master



18. Neuton Chakma (Dr.)



19. Rakhi Chakma



20. Nihar Kanti Chakma



21. Nirmal Kanti Chakma



22. Chigon Chiji Chakma



23. Dhabana Chakma



24. Shanti Ranjan Ckakma



25. Kala Chan Chakma



26. Neuton Chakma (Kalabo)



27. Kamini Ranjan Chakma



28. Sushi Ranjan Chakma



29. Rabi Ranjan Chakma



30. Baratya Chakma



31. Shanti Bikash Chakma (2)



32. Suma Chakma (Para Kendra School)

Gangaram Mukh village:

1. Gyana Chakma



2. Sunesh Chakma



3. Kaladhan Chakma



4. Jagadish Chakma



5. Lorbo Chakma



6. Maratshaw Chakma



7. Ajit Chakma



8. Mangal Sadhan Chakma



9. Chiranta Master



10. Suman Chakma



11. Chandra Mohan Chakma

Baghaihat Purba Para village:

1. Jyoti Moy Chakma



2. Kala Maratya Chakma



3. Arun Bikash Chakma



4. Jagadish Chakma



5. Rupan Chakma



6. Bhubati Chakma



7. Sumati Ranjan Chakma



8. Dhana Gula Chakma



9. Nilamoy Chakma



10. Mangal Sen Chakma



11. Dhana Bikash Chakma



12. Gyana Ranjan Chakma



13. Sunil Kanti Chakma



14. Trishankar Chakma



15. Paran Sona Chakma



16. Monu Ranjan Chakma



17. Dulal Chakma



18. Amar Bikash Chakma



19. Rumel Chakma



20. Bangalya Chakma



21. Laxmi Kumar Chakma



22. Samar Kanti Chakma



23. Amar Kanti Chakma



24. Minal Chakma



25. Laxmindra Chakma



26. Indra Raj Chakma



27. Aiub Kanti Chakma

Retaabachara village:

1. Mon Mohan Chakma



2. Ranesh Chakma



3. Kinadhan Chakma



4. Ladu Muni Chakma



5. Goyeshur Chakma

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Sajek Arson Attack

Translation of news titled "Swajaner Sandhaney Supayan Chakma" published in Bengali daily 'Prothom Alo' on 28 April 2008

Supayan Chakma's quest for relatives

One-night incident has changed the life of Supayan Chakma, a student of grade VI of Baghaihat High School. He along with a bag and a bundle of books was looking for his family members for six days. He was crossing one hill to another hill of deep forest. But he could not trace out his family members.Kamini Chakma of Daine Baibachara village of Sajek union is the father of Supayan Chakma. Like other houses, their house was also burnt to ashes during the arson attack committed by some miscreants on 20 April. He became detached from his father, mother and his elder brother Biken Chakma while they escaping.Supayan Chakma who reached at Kabakhali moan (hill) under Dighinala upazila last Saturday said that he would go Babuchari union close to Indian border to find out his parent. Some one informed him that his father, mother and brother took shelter at a hill there.Supayan Chakma, like other villagers, started walking for safe shelter along with his books and cloths. After walking a long distance along with the villagers, they halted for rest at a place. But he became aware suddenly that his father, mother and brother are not along with. He passed nights sleeping at bottom of tree or at house of different families even without food and started every day tracing for his family members during daytime.The sun was simmering while he started walking 10 kilometres distance along with his books and bag. However, could he find out his family members?During arson attack by some miscreants at Baghaihat area of Sajek union under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati district at night of 20 April, more than hundred houses of Jumma and Bengali peoples of seven villages were burnt to ashes. Of them, most of Jumma villagers took shelter in deep forest while other Jummas at a Buddhist temple and a cluster village. And Bengali people took shelter at Bghaihat bazar. Though one week have been passed after occurrence of the incident, but commander of the Baghaihat zone admitted that situation is yet to be normal.Baghaichari Unpazila Nirbahi Officer Mr. Shibir Bichitra Barua admitted that more than two hundred students' books were burnt down in this arson attack. He said that the books for these students would be bought for continuing their study without interruption.