RRAG raises racial violence against indigenous peoples in Bangladesh before UN human rights council

Geneva: Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) addressed the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday in Geneva and raised the issue of racial violence against indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Mr Chakma stated that on 28 September 2025, three indigenous peoples were killed by the Bangladesh Army at Guimara village but the relatives of the victims are scared to file FIR because of the threats. Last year, on 19-20 September 2024, the illegal settlers and the Bangladesh Army killed four indigenous persons, injured 75 others and burnt hundreds of houses of indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts but the Government has not been made public the inquiry report public to provide impunity.

Mr Chakma further stated, "Not a single indigenous person or minority was included in the Constitutional Reforms Commission. The report of the Constitutional Reforms Commission also made no reference to indigenous peoples or minorities, thereby denying their existence in law."

On 12 January 2025, the National Curriculum Board of Bangladesh removed the graffiti which contained the word “Adivasi” or indigenous, from the back cover of its High School Grammar textbook. When indigenous students went to protest in Dhaka on 15 January 2025, they were attacked by the Islamic fundamentalists.

Mr Chakma urged the Human Rights Council ought to take effective measures to address such racial discrimination in Bangladesh.