On 19-20 February 2010 Bangladesh army backed Muslim settlers attacked the indigenous people at Baghaichari leaving an indigenous man dead. The aim of the attack was to drive out the indigenous Chakma Buddhists and grab their land. The indigenous Buddhist man was gunned down by the Bangladesh army.

Bengali settlers murder an indigenous Chakma Buddhist in Dighinala

On 27 February 1998, at about 8 p.m. 3 Muslim settlers named Mohammad Abu Taher, Mohammad Yusuf Ali and Mohammad Ayub Ali went to the home of Mr. Shashi Ranjan Chakma. Mr. Chakma was a repatriated indigenous refugee of Bhanu Kinkar Karbari Para, Dighinala. The settlers took him out on the pretext of going to the home of Mr. Bhanu Kinkar Karbari, a member of the local Union Council.

As Mr. Chakma did not return home in time, his wife, Mrs. Purna Devi Chakma feared for his safety and informed Mr. Karbari and other villagers about the incident. Having found no trace of him, she filed a case against the 3 Muslim settlers. Three days later his dead body was found.

It is important to note that while Mr. Chakma fled to Tripura of India to escape persecution, Mohammad Yusuf Ali in collusion with Bangladesh army and district administration illegally occupied his agricultural land. After repatriation, Mr. Chakma demanded his land. But the Muslim settlers refused to vacate it. There is no doubt that the 3 Muslim settlers killed him in order to steal his land. The Bangladesh Government have not taken any actions against the 3 Muslim settlers.

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