Denouncing the violence on Indigenous Peoples in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh
Artwork by Tufan Chakma, an Indigenous visual artist and story teller from Chittagong hill tracts.
25.9.2024
The International Land Coalition expresses its deep concern over the targeted and unabated attacks on the Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh since September 18, 2024, as confirmed by ILC member Kapaeeng Foundation. As the largest and most diverse global coalition centred on land rights, we are acutely aware that shrinking civic space, civil unrest and political instability exacerbate inequalities, particularly land inequalities faced by Indigenous Peoples, further challenging their right to self determination.
According to news reports, widespread violence has resulted in the deaths of at least four indigenous men while dozens have been injured. At least 110 homes and businesses belonging to Indigenous Peoples were set on fire in the CHT by members of the dominant Bengali community.
National daily Prothom Alo has confirmed the deaths of three indigenous men. The deceased were Junan Chakma (20), Dhananjay Chakma (50) and Rubel Tripura (30). At least 15 more people were hospitalised.
Despite the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997, militarization, extractive activities and land grabbing continue more than 26 years later, keeping all Indigenous Peoples in fear and risk of eviction and violence.
Disinformation and hate speech targeting indigenous groups has escalated the situation, including provocative speeches using the local mosque’s loudspeaker, leading to indigenous owned businesses being torched in Dighinala.
Further, on 20 September 2024, an indigenous students’ protest rally against a killing and arson attack was targeted by Bengali settlers. In this attack an indigenous youth named Anik Kumar Chakma (22) was brutally killed by the attackers, several others were injured.
LANDex data indicates that the legal framework in Bangladesh is not doing enough (with an overall score of 40 out of 100) to adhere to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which provides unique protections for Indigenous Peoples.
LANDex data also indicates that in addition to a weak legal framework, there is little political will, inadequate funding, and little to no institutional support to implement existing laws to provide for Indigenous Peoples’ rights (with a score of 11 out of 100).
On August 25th 2024, in his address to the Nation, the Honourable Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh H.E. Professor Muhammad Yunus, assured that “Indigenous people are also citizens of this country and are entitled to equal protection under the law”.
Currently, there are no clear procedures for the identification, demarcation, mapping and registration of Indigenous Peoples’ lands or territories and legislation does not clearly recognise the state’s duty to ensure their free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) prior to approval of any project.
According to the 2022 census, the country’s indigenous population numbers approximately 1,650,478, representing 1% of the total population. However, Indigenous Peoples in the country claim that their population stands closer to 4 million. (Source: IWGIA, The Indigenous World, 2024)
To assert their right to self determination, thousands of indigenous students staged a street demonstration, ‘March for Identity’ in Khagrachari, one of the three districts of the military-ruled Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The students placed eight-point demands, including the full implementation of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.
ILC acknowledges that the Interim government has provided reassurance of protection and peace following the visit of a high-level government delegation in the affected two hill districts on 21st September 2024. This is a positive move from the government. ILC strongly condemns all forms of violence that took place in the Chittagong Hill Tracts between 18–20 September
We call on the Interim Government of Bangladesh to take immediate further steps, including:
- To form a judicial probe body to investigate the incidents of recent violence in Khagrachari and Rangamati district
- To punish the perpetrators and other persons found responsible in the investigation
- To compensate all victims and rehabilitate the families of killed persons
- To establish lasting peace in the CHT urgent steps should be taken, including making the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission functional and to implement the 1997 CHT Accord fully.