 |
A scene of
army personnel on patrol. |
Reporter
from Barmachhari, CHT News
Sunday, 31
August 2025
On Friday,
29 August 2025, at around 9 a.m., a patrol team of 10 army personnel led by
Havildar Enamul Islam from the Khiram Army Camp, under the Laxmichhari Zone of
Khagrachari, conducted a patrol up to Dolupara area in Fatikchari Union of
Kaukhali Upazila, Rangamati district.
Locals said
that Havildar Enamul is somewhat eccentric in nature. During the patrol, he
took photos of whoever he saw on the road or in shops. He questioned various
people, asking, “Is there extortion here? Do terrorists come here?”
At one
point, he approached Nishi Chakma, a village police member sitting at a shop in
Fatikchari Union, and asked, “Is there illegal business going on here? Are
alcohol or ganja (hemp) produced here?”
Annoyed by
such questioning, Nishi Chakma responded firmly, saying, “There are no
terrorists here. No extortion takes place. No illegal activities happen.
Personnel from your Khiram and Shuknachari camps frequently come and patrol
this area. Never have they found anything illegal. If you have any proof, then
take legal action accordingly.”
The army
personnel later left the area but observed various locations on their way back
to the camp.
Meanwhile,
on Saturday, Commander Atik of Khiram Camp summoned some local timber traders
and elderly community members to the camp. A delegation of 8-9 people,
including timber traders Md. Elias Saudagar, Shukkur Saudagar, and Ward Member
Md. Ali of Ward 3 of Khiram Union, went to meet Commander Atik.
Commander
Atik told the delegation: “If you agree to one condition, you can collect trees
and bamboo 24 hours a day. But if you don’t comply or follow my condition, you
won’t be allowed to take even a single tree or bamboo.”
His
condition was: “You must hand over one person along with a firearm.”
The delegation
was shocked and speechless upon hearing this. They strongly rejected the
commander’s proposal with disgust, saying: “The trees and bamboos we trade are
all legal. We don’t cut from government forests.”
It’s worth
noting that under the ongoing military rule in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in
the name of “Operation Uttoron”, the army maintains control and surveillance
over all aspects of life, including trade and commerce. Army officers, in their
quest for promotions, are making innocent hill people scapegoats.
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