A human rights organization dedicated to protecting the civil liberties of the indigenous communities in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) has issued a powerful plea for international intervention. This urgent call comes after a deadly crackdown by the Bangladesh Army on Sunday, September 28, 2025, where several tribal members were killed.
The tragic events unfolded when Army personnel opened fire on activists from the Jumma Chhatra Janata group. These protestors were demonstrating peacefully, seeking justice in response to recent reports of egregious sexual violence against a young girl from the tribal Marma community.
Suhas Chakma, representing the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), vehemently stated, “Instead of apprehending those responsible for the heinous acts of sexual violence, the Bangladeshi Army has systematically violated the rights of indigenous peoples, culminating in indiscriminate firing and killing of peaceful protestors.”
Furthermore, the RRAG has accused the Bangladesh Army of deliberately altering the region’s demographics by facilitating the settlement of “outsiders” in the CHT. Mr. Chakma confirmed that these recent killings will be brought before the ongoing session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva this week.
The deadly confrontation occurred in Khagrachhari, a key district within the ethnically diverse CHT region. The protests were ignited by disturbing reports from September 23 detailing the gang rape of an indigenous teenager.
Confirming the fatalities, Ahsan Habib Palash, Deputy Inspector General of Chattogram Range Police, informed Daily Star that “three persons were brought dead to the Sadar Hospital by police.” However, the RRAG reported a higher toll, stating that four individuals were killed and numerous others sustained injuries during the firing.
In a formal press statement, the RRAG explicitly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and address the systematic attacks perpetrated by the Bangladesh Army against the indigenous populations of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This region has been plagued by escalating clashes and instability since the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024.
A long-standing peace agreement between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), established in 1997 under the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, has faced increasing criticism. Critics argue that the agreement has largely failed to empower indigenous communities through greater government participation, and instead, has coincided with a steady rise in the settlement of “outsiders” within the CHT region, exacerbating ethnic tensions.