Doubt
Over ‘July Declaration’ and the 13th National Parliament Election
Staff Reporter, CHT News
July 06, 2025, Wednesday
Welcoming the
announcement of the 13th National Parliament elections scheduled by February
2026, the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) has stated that no free,
fair, and impartial elections are possible in the Chittagong Hill Tracts under
continued military rule and control.
In a statement issued
today, Wednesday, August 6, 2025, UPDF Vice President Nutan Kumar Chakma made
the above remarks.
In the statement sent to
the media, he further said: "Where there is no freedom of expression, no
right to hold meetings or rallies, no democratic space for party activities,
and where an atmosphere of fear is maintained daily in villages under the guise
of operations, expecting free and fair elections is nothing but wishful
thinking."
He further commented that
with undemocratic and fascist rule prevailing in a vast region like the
Chittagong Hill Tracts, no truly democratic government or system can be
established in the country through elections.
He added: "Such
so-called elections can only replace one fascist regime with another."
The UPDF leader called
upon the government to immediately take four urgent measures to create a
conducive environment for free, fair, and impartial elections in the Chittagong
Hill Tracts. These are:
1. Ending military rule
and control to create a democratic atmosphere;
2.Disbanding the
vigilante group formed during the fascist Hasina regime, arresting and
prosecuting its members involved in crimes including murder, enforced
disappearances, and rape;
3.Taking action against
the armed group patronized by Santu Larma, chairman of a state institution, the
Regional Council; and
4. Stopping military
operations in villages, harassment, arrests, and torture of civilians.
Nutan Kumar Chakma
stated: "Under the leadership of UPDF, the indigenous people of the
Chittagong Hill Tracts, along with people from the plains, participated in a
popular uprising against the tyrannical rule of fascist Hasina with the aim of
establishing genuine democracy across the country. They also welcomed the
interim government formed under Dr. Yunus on August 8 and expressed their
support for its justified steps."
However, he noted that
"Within just a month of assuming power, the interim government allowed
killings, arson, and looting in Rangamati and Khagrachhari on September 19-20,
followed by further attacks and looting in Khagrachhari town on October 1 in
the presence of the military. Yet, no legal action was taken against the
perpetrators. The repression against UPDF and the people continues as before.
Under pressure from an obscure religious fascist group, UPDF was shamefully
excluded from a scheduled meeting in the middle of the state reform process.
And just yesterday, August 5, a brutal attack was carried out on a UPDF rally
in Khagrachhari marking the ‘Fall of Fascist Hasina Day,’ with participants
being obstructed as well. These incidents have exposed the fascist character of
Dr. Yunus’s government."
He concluded by stating
that in reality, there is no fundamental difference between the fascist regime
of Hasina and the interim government of Dr. Yunus in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts.
Given this situation, the
UPDF leader made it clear that there is no question of continuing support for
the interim government, and formally announced the withdrawal of UPDF’s
previously declared support for the newly fascist Yunus government.
In the same statement, the UPDF leader also expressed skepticism over the ‘July Declaration’, saying that its failure to include more significant and fundamental issues will make it unacceptable to many political parties.
----