Panchari Correspondent, CHT News
Monday, 22 September 2025
A protest march and rally were held in Panchari, Khagrachari,
demanding an end to house raids, looting, harassment, and torture carried out
under the pretext of military operations.
The protest was organized by the Panchari branch of the Students and
People's Movement Council.
On Monday (22 September 2025) at around 10:30 AM, a protest march
started from Pujgang Saribala College in Panchari. The march went around the
“Upper Pujgang Bazaar” and concluded near Chengi Ideal School with a brief
rally after blocking the Dhudukchara–Panchari Sadar Road. More than 400 men,
women, and students from various areas participated in the protest.
During the march, protesters chanted slogans and displayed placards
against the oppression, harassment, and abuse by the military.
At the rally, Jinim Chakma, a representative of the Panchari branch
of the Students and People's Movement Council, read out a written statement
moderated by Chaiti Chakma, another member of the organization.
In his statement, Jinim Chakma said:
“We are citizens of Bangladesh. Just like other citizens, we have
the right to live safely and peacefully in our homes. But due to the military
operations, we are unable to live in peace. The army enters our homes at any
time, day or night, without permission. Under the pretense of conducting
searches, they ransack everything in the house — even looting people's saved
money and important documents. Not only that, innocent people are being beaten
without reason and are subjected to mental torture under the guise of
interrogation. What the military is doing is deeply unjust and illegal. From
this assembly, we strongly condemn and protest against such injustices and
abuses by the army.”
He further added:
“During these operations, army personnel occupy our schools,
disrupting all academic activities. Classes get canceled. The people of the
area live in constant fear. Many are forced to flee into the forests or
elsewhere out of fear. This severely hampers the villagers' normal way of
life.”
He also said:
“The army claims to search for terrorists during operations, but in reality, they themselves are creating and fostering terrorist groups. They bring terrorists along during operations. These terrorists live and move with them day and night. But instead of arresting those terrorists, the military harasses and detains innocent people and slaps false charges against them to imprison them.”
Referring to an incident on 20 September in Jagpara, where Supravat
Chakma, Nishant Chakma, and Ripen Chakma were beaten during a military
operation, Jinim Chakma questioned:
“What was their crime? Why were they subjected to such inhumane
torture? What crime did the people whose homes were searched or destroyed and
who were ordered to leave their villages commit? Is being a hill person their
only ‘crime’? They didn't commit theft, robbery, terrorism, extortion, or
destroy anyone’s fields — then why are they being tortured? What kind of
country is this? Is this not their country? Is this not the country of the hill
people too?”
In his concluding remarks, Jinim Chakma called upon the people:
“We cannot afford to remain afraid any longer. The more we stay
silent in fear, the more the oppression will increase. And why should we be
afraid? We have committed no crimes or wrongdoing. Those who are torturing and
abusing innocent people — they are the real criminals. They should be the ones
afraid.
“When the people rise up together, they (the oppressors) do get
scared. No matter how powerful they appear, they are the ones doing wrong — and
wrongdoers are always cowardly. That’s why they try to intimidate the people.
But when the people overcome fear and stand united to resist, the oppressors
flee. Remember, on August 5 last year, when the people rose up united, Sheikh
Hasina was forced to flee the country. Even she seemed powerful before her
fall. If we, the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, rise up together and
build resistance, the oppressive regime will find no place to hide.”
He urged people to build a movement in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
against the state’s injustice and oppression, saying: “The military is
committing these atrocities to destroy us — to wipe us out as a people. We can
no longer remain silent. We must protest and fight for our just rights. There
is no other way forward for us but to struggle for survival.”
In a final warning to the government and the ruling authorities, he
said: “There is no greater power in the world than the people. Don’t flaunt
your power arrogantly. Remember, a time may come when that power could crumble
in an instant.”
Six-point demands were raised at the protest, which include:
1. Immediately stop the harassment, abuse, detention of innocent
people, and occupation of schools that disrupt education under the name of
military operations.
2. Stop entering people’s homes without permission to conduct
searches.
3. Arrest the terrorists residing near army camps.
4. Disband the vigilante groups (armed auxiliary force) and bring
them to justice.
5. Return all money and belongings looted during operations, and
compensate those who suffered losses.
6. End the ongoing military rule under the name “Operation Uttoron.”
Slogans displayed on placards and banners:
• Stop torture under the guise of military
operations
• Stop house raids and harassment
• Stop looting in the name of searches
• Stop military thuggery
• End military rule under “Operation Uttoron”
• The military is the sponsor of terrorism
• We don’t want an oppressive army
• Stop army-vigilante violence
• Don’t turn our schools into army camps
• We want teachers in schools, not soldiers
Military Surveillance:
It was reported that, in an attempt to disrupt the protest, a
30-member military team was deployed early in the morning via Fatema Nagar to
Birendra Para, west of Pujgang High School. They flew a drone to monitor the
protest rally for about 4–5 minutes.
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