Land Grabbing Attacks on indigenous By Bengali Settlers Continues on the influence of Bangldesh Army

Suharto Chakma

In Bangladesh, whole country was celebrating the victory day of the country at 16 december 2014, indigenous houses and shops were burnt down by Bengali settlers in Bagachari area under Burighat union of Naniarchar upazila in Rangamati district. The arson attack by Bengal settlers was made allegedly in connection with land grabbing.

On that day between 6:00 am-7:00 am, a mob of Bengali settlers of Islampur and Bagachhari villages under Burighat union set fire on neighboring three indigenous villages. As a result, 37 houses of Chhuridaspara, 6 houses of Nabin Karbari Para and 7 houses of Baghachari were completely burnt down. Same settlers also burnt down 7 shops at Ananda Bazar areas of Chouddomel.

Besides, Karuna Kutir, a Buddhist temple, of Bagachhari was vandalized by the settlers. At that time some idols of Lord Buddha were broken down and five brass-made idols were looted by them. A Buddhist monk named Ubasa Thero present there was also physically assaulted during the attack. At some point the settlers were even preparing to burn the temple down, but hindered by the members of military present there.
Notably, earlier Bengali settlers including Abchar Master, Azad, and Abul Kalam grabbed around 4.75 acres of land of Nishi Kumar Chakma of Bagachari village and developed pineapple fields on that land. Bengali settlers alleged that on the night before the attack was made, a group of unknown miscreants of indigenous Jumma people chopped those plants and pineapples down. In the morning when Bengali settlers learnt about the incident, they got angry and spread communal sentiment. They started to attack and set fire on.

Shortly, a group of Bangladesh Army led by 2IC (Second in Command) Major Rakib of Naniarchar Zone under 56 Bengal also went to visit the spot. Local Jumma villagers alleged that Bengali settlers set fire on nearby indigenous Jumma villages at the presence of the members of the Army.
Source: Asian Tribune