Sohel Chakma
Whenever someone speaks logically about the movement, struggle, or
politics in the hills, the army, JSS (Santu), and other reactionary forces
quickly tag them as being with the 'UPDF. Even if someone merely protests
injustice, they are not spared from being branded with this tag. It is
generously and liberally handed out.
In some religions, questioning doctrines, expressing doubts, or
applying logic is considered heresy, punishable by sanctions. Similarly, you
cannot question the politics or programs of the JSS Santu faction. If anyone
does, or speaks with reason, they are immediately told: “You’re with the UPDF,
you think you know better,” etc. In this way, the JSS Santu faction uses the
“UPDF tag” as a weapon to silence dissent.
But the question is: why do they use this tag? The act of tagging is
actually a strategy – one meant to keep progressive and activist forces
divided. Because they know that if the people unite and struggle together, the
consequences for the reactionaries will be dire. That's why they constantly
deploy various tactics to prevent the people from uniting under proper
leadership and organizing under the right parties and organizations.
Currently, two distinct trends dominate the politics of the
Chittagong Hill Tracts. One is led by the JSS (Santu faction) – an extremely
reactionary, opportunistic, and subservient trend. The other is a progressive,
uncompromising, movement-oriented trend. The first one – the opportunistic and
subservient line led by Santu Larma – is backed by the army and DGFI.
Naturally, they are opposed to any struggle. That’s why the military
establishment makes every effort to keep this trend dominant.
On the other hand, the UPDF is the only party in the hills that is
consistently fighting against the army's repression, violence against women,
and land grabbing. They proudly uphold the long-cherished dream of the people
of the hills – autonomy. Naturally, the politics of UPDF are disliked by the
army and the ruling forces. At the same time, reactionaries like the JSS Santu
group oppose the UPDF because the UPDF's activism and politics expose their
true faces – their betrayal, opportunism, and reactionary nature.
The reactionaries want to deprive the people of proper leadership,
because no movement can succeed without correct leadership. That’s why the army
represses the UPDF – the leading party of the current movement. This repression
is visible to the general public. Through such repression, they also try to
intimidate the masses: “If you protest like the UPDF, if you struggle against
injustice, you too will be jailed, tortured.” So, to keep people away from the
movement and separate them from UPDF’s politics of resistance, they attach
“UPDF tag” to them – so that they get scared and remain silent like “good
boys.”
In this way, reactionaries have long succeeded in frightening many
with this “tag.” But now, their tactic is no longer effective. People are no
longer afraid of being tagged. This sentiment was recently echoed by a
coordinator of the “Anti-discrimination and Anti-conflict Student Movement” in
the hills. He wrote on his Facebook:
“I don’t know about the future, but given the current reality, if
someone isn’t labeled with the UPDF tag while fighting for the rights of the
Jumma people – then they really need to question whether they’re even on the
right path of the struggle!”
People in the hills now understand: rights cannot be achieved
without struggle. Therefore, all activist forces must unite.
Throughout history, those who stood for justice, freedom, and rights
have been relentlessly oppressed by ruling classes. That is the harsh reality.
The path to freedom and rights has never been easy, simple, or smooth. During
British rule, were not the freedom fighters brutally oppressed? We know that
Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, and others were repeatedly jailed by the British.
Countless revolutionaries were hanged, exiled, tortured – the full list is hard
to compile. Yet the British could not destroy the Congress Party, and in the
end, they were forced to grant India independence.
After Partition, parties like NAP and Awami League faced brutal
repression from the West Pakistani rulers – a fact that many know. Yet, people
supported the Awami League back then (even though it later became a fascist
party – not the focus here), and ultimately, the Pakistani rulers were forced
to withdraw from what is now Bangladesh.
Similarly, the ruling class of Bangladesh has been carrying out
brutal repression against the UPDF and others fighting for their rights for the
past 27 years. Still, they have failed to suppress the UPDF, and they will
continue to fail. In fact, the more they repress UPDF, the stronger it becomes.
People are rallying in support of UPDF.
Finally, the most important truth is this: what reactionary rulers
fear the most is people’s unity. That is why they try every possible trick to
prevent it – one of which is this tagging strategy. But such strategies don’t
always work. Today, the army and reactionary forces’ “UPDF tagging” has failed.
The people have awakened, and have defeated this tactic. Victory will come from
the united movement of the people.
Sohel Chakma is an Assistant General Secretary of the Hill Students’
Council.
(27 September 2025)
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