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| A scene of Basana Mohan Chakma being abducted at gunpoint from Nakapa Bazar in Ramgarh on September 1, led by Md. Masud Hossain Bappi and Sulen Chakma. |
Manikchari Correspondent, CHT News
Friday, September 5, 2025
Md. Masud Hossain Bappi, Deputy Secretary of
Literature and Publications for the Manikchhari Upazila Chhatra League in
Khagrachhari, has now become a notorious vigilante terrorist backed by the
military. Under the protection of the army, he is carrying out heinous criminal
activities including murder, abduction, and extortion.
Most recently, on September 1, 2025, Bappi's name came
up in connection with the armed abduction of one Basana Mohan Chakma from the
Nakapa Bazaar area of Ramgarh. That day, a six-member gang of armed vigilante
terrorists carried out the kidnapping.
Basana Mohan Chakma had been returning by a jeep
(Chander Gari) after attending a rally organized by the Pahari Chhatra Parishad
and the Democratic Youth Forum in the Joutha Khamar area of Ramgarh.
A video taken during the incident shows Masud Hossain
Bappi and several other armed men pointing weapons at Basna Mohan Chakma and
dragging him away. The footage also shows them threatening bystanders with guns
to intimidate the crowd.
The victim, Basna Mohan Chakma, is a resident of Guza
Para in the Jogyochhola Union of Manikchhari Upazila. After the abduction, he
was beaten and handed over to the Guimara Army Brigade. The army interrogated
him and then ordered his release, after which the kidnappers let him go later
that afternoon. Basana claims Bappi beat him in multiple locations on the way
and threatened to kill him.
According to the victim and eyewitnesses, four of the
abductors were Bengali and two were Indigenous (Pahari). Those identified
include:
1. Md. Masud Hossain Bappi (Manikchhari)
2. Manju Islam (Village: Patachhara, Ramgarh)
3. Sagor Barua (Manikchhari)
4. Sulen Chakma
The other two (one Bengali and one Indigenous) remain
unidentified.
Masud Hossain Bappi is originally from the Goru Bazar
area of Manikchhari Upazila. He currently holds the position of Deputy
Secretary of Literature and Publications in the banned Manikchhari Upazila
branch of the Chhatra League. Although he was temporarily suspended on
September 18, 2023, a press release issued on December 4, 2023, by Upazila
Chhatra League President Md. Jamal Hossain and Chalapru Marma Niloy stated that
Bappi’s suspension had been withdrawn and he was reinstated to his position.
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League
government in the mass uprising of July 2024, and the subsequent ban on the
Chhatra League, most leaders and activists of the Manikchhari Chhatra League
went into hiding. However, Bappi and a few others reportedly took refuge with
local vigilante groups. They are now allegedly involved in kidnapping, murder,
extortion, and other crimes in collusion with the army.
The daylight abduction of Basana Mohan Chakma on
September 1 from Nakapa Bazaar at gunpoint is the most recent example of these
crimes. Although the victim stated he was kidnapped at gunpoint, the army took
no action against the abductors and instead returned the victim to them after
interrogation.
This incident clearly highlights the close
relationship between the vigilantes and the army. Without military backing and
support, it would not be possible for banned Chhatra League activists and the
vigilantes to carry out such terrorist activities.
Moreover, by not taking action against banned Chhatra
League leader Bappi, the army at the Guimara Brigade has itself violated the
country’s laws. While publicly claiming to oppose terrorism, in reality, they
have become godfathers of terrorists and are reportedly using them as tools to
suppress mass movements led by the UPDF (United People's Democratic Front).
However, the truth cannot be hidden forever. The
army's real face has now been revealed.
The public demands that if peace is to be restored in
the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the army must stop supporting terrorist groups, and
they must end the repression of people’s movements and civilians through these
groups.
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