Chakmas seek ban on export of essential products to Bangladesh from India

Hundreds of Chakma people protested at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Tuesday. They were denouncing the recent violence against indigenous hill tribes in Bangladesh. On September 19-20, illegal settlers and Bangladesh Army personnel allegedly carried out coordinated attacks. These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least five indigenous people, injuries to over 70, and the destruction of approximately 200 homes and businesses.

The attacks were allegedly justified by the death of a suspected motorcycle thief, Muhammad Mamun, on September 18. However, according to an FIR filed by Mamun’s wife, he was murdered by Muslim settlers led by Mohammed Shakil.

Indigenous hill people have been facing a growing wave of racial discrimination and violence in plain districts of Bangladesh, particularly in Chittagong, Dhaka, and Savar areas. These areas have a large number of indigenous people working in the export processing zones, and the attacks have made it increasingly dangerous for them to venture outside their communities.

Chakma leaders expressed concern about the recent visit of three advisors to the Interim Government of Bangladesh to the Chittagong Hill Tracts in a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. One advisor, AF Hasan Arif, in his meeting with the US Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires in Dhaka, blamed “external conspiracies” for the unrest in the region.

Tejang Chakma, Director of the Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI), stated, “As the organized attacks upon the indigenous people on a false pretext were carried out by the illegal settlers and the Bangladesh Army personnel, foreign Islamic terrorists may be involved. The involvement of Pakistan’s ISI and Islamic terrorists cannot be ruled out.”

Rup Singh Chakma, President of the Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union, noted that not only hill tribes but also Hindu and other religious minorities have been targeted in organized attacks during the caretaker government. He cited a report by Prothom Alo that documented damage to over 1,090 homes, businesses, and places of worship between August 5 and 20.

Santosh Baburah Chakma, President of the Noida Chakma Welfare and Cultural Society, criticized the Bangladesh government’s failure to investigate these human rights violations. He also condemned the comments of Dr. Mohammed Yunus, who blamed the attacks on Hindus for their affiliation with the Awami League.

Suhas Chakma, Founder of the CDFI, said, “We appreciate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not holding any talks with the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Dr Mohammed Yunus, on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session in New York and this needs to be carried forward further in the light of the seriousness of the attacks.”

“PM Modi must impose an export ban on essential and industrial products, including food, fuels, energy, and raw materials for industries like garments and construction, to Bangladesh until the violence against minorities is addressed and accountability is established in all cases of attacks on religious minorities,” he stated.