Illegal arrest and torture of 11 innocent indigenous hill peoples by the Bangladesh Army - GAIPCHT to approach UN DPKO

New Delhi: The Global Association for Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (GAIPCHT) on Saturday condemned the illegal arrest and torture of 11 innocent indigenous hill people in two staged operations by the Bangladesh Army on 19 and 20 June 2025 and stated that it will file complaints with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). 

On 19 June 2025, the Bangladesh Army personnel led by Lieutenant Colonel Md. Masud Rana, Commander of Baghaichhari Zone, arrested Suga Chakma (42) and Bindumoy Chakma (41) under false charges of being collectors of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) during an operation conducted near the 11-kilometre mark on the Marishya–Dighinala road in Baghaichari Upazila, Rangamati district.  In a separate operation on 20 June 2025, the Bangladesh Army personnel led by Major Md. Manjur Morshed, Deputy Commander of the Alikadam Zone, carried out an operation at Punarbason Chakma Para and Emmanuel Tripura Para areas of Lama Upazila, Bandarban district and arrested nine alleged members of the Parbattya Chhattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) headed by Chairman of the CHTs Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma alias Santu Larma. Those detained at Lama were Ananda Mohan Chakma (72), Shantiram Chakma (33), Chatui Chakma (35), Shanti Ranjan Chakma (35), Kalparanjan Chakma (45), Jyoti Bikash Chakma (28), Pakhiram Tripura (31), Chhotiya Tripura (60), and Jewel Tripura (26). In both cases, the Bangladesh Army personnel claimed to have recovered home-made guns and other weapons such as knives, mobile phones, electric cables etc. The detainees were allegedly subjected to torture by the Bangladesh Army personnel before handing over to the police.

“Nine hill people arrested at Lama are not members of the PCJSS, and if indeed, they are members of the PCJSS, in that case, Chairman of the CHTs Regional Council Santu Larma ought to be proceeded against as per the law for keeping an armed group. The UPDF is not a banned organization and two arrested at Baghachari are not members of the UPDF. All the arrested hill people are innocent, arrested in orchestrated operations and were thereafter shown as members of the PCJSS and the UPDF before the media so that Lieutenant Colonel Md. Masud Rana and Major Md. Manjur Morshed can get promotion and priority for deployment with the UN Peacekeeping Missions.” - stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Convenor of the GAIPCHT.

“The GAIPCHT shall take up the issue with the United Nations including Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) to ensure that the innocent hill people are released unconditionally and Lieutenant Colonel Md. Masud Rana and Major Md. Manjur Morshed are not deployed for the UN Peacekeeping Operations.”- added Mr Sanchay Chakma, GAIPCHT Country Representative in Switzerland.