On 4 December 2007 Bangladesh army backed Muslim settler raped indiegnous Buddhist girl Miss Ruikrashu Marma (10) when she was going to school in Ramgarh of Khagrachari district. Indigenous women and girls in CHT are in constant threat of rape.

Bangladesh army attempt to rape a Chakma woman in Nanyachar

On 8 November 2009 an army man from Ghilachari camp under Nanyachar army zone attempted to rape a Chakma woman named Ms. Jamuna Chakma (21) wife of Shyamal Kanti Chakma of Krishnamachara village of Ghilachari union under Naniachar upazila. The culprit was identified as Mohamed Ziaul.

On that day around 3:00 pm Ms. Jamuna Chakma went to nearby well to bring water. At that time, army person Mohamed Ziaul also went there from their nearby sentry post in the pretext of drinking water. When he found Ms. Jamuna Chakma alone, he tried to grab her from behind and attempted to rape. But Ms. Jamuna Chakma could narrowly run away and reach nearby turmeric and ginger field where some Chakma villagers were working.

No sooner of the incident, husband of Ms. Jamuna Chakma along with neighboring villagers went to the Ghilachari camp and put an objection against Mohamed Ziaul. The camp authority tried to terminate the matter by offering some money to the husband of Ms. Jamuna.

But the local people and the victim’s husband did not agree on the verdict of the Ghilachari camp authority. That’s why, soon after hearing the verdict of the Ghilachari camp authority, the local people in participation of a huge number of women brought out a procession protesting the incident.

At one stage, on that day around 5:00 pm Lt. Colonel Md. Mushfikur Rahaman, Commander of Nanyachar army zone visited the spot and gave assurance to the demonstrators that the criminal would be punished. On 9 November 2009, the local people again brought out a procession at Ghilachari area along the Rangamati-Khagrachari road. At that time, Chairman of Nanyachar upazila council Mr. Pritimoy Chakma, Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) of Nanyachar upazila Mohamed Jahirul Islam, Chairman of Nanyachar union Mr. Panchanon Chakma, Chairman of Burighat union Mr. Pranati Ranjan Chakma and Chairman of Ghilachari union Mr. Mithu Chakma council visited the spot and at one stage, they were surrounded by the demonstrators. They were compelled by the demonstrators to give undertaking to fulfill the following demands.

1. Punish the army man involved in the incident
2. Withdraw Ghilachari army camp
3. Ensure security of life of the indigenous people
4. Stop harassment and torture on indigenous women

On 12 November 2009 a group of army from Ghilachari camp conducted operation at Ghilachari area. During the operation, army surrounded the houses of (1) Pulak Chakma and (2) Ananta Bikash Chakma. Again, on 13 November 2009 army encircled the houses of (1) Mithu Chakma, (2) Amar Jiban Chakma and (3) Jogendra Chakma.

On 17 November 2009, Bangladesh army attacked a group of Chakma men and women without provocation and tortured the following indigenous people.

1. Ms. Jhinu Chakma (25) wife of Kalaboa Chakma
2. Ms. Maya Chakma (15) daughter of Buddha Kumar Chakma
3. Ms. Chadra Mela Chakma (36) wife of Suresh Kumar Chakma
4. Mr. Anil Chakma (42)
5. Ms. Kalabi Chakma (45) wife of Rajmoni Chakma

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