Situation of Indigenous Women and Girls in Bangladesh

An indigenous Tripura girl gang raped by Bengali settlers in Ramgarh

On 14 February 2017 at around 11.30 pm an indigenous Tripura girl (14) was forcefully abducted by some Bengali settlers from her house at Rupaichara Para under Ward no. 9 of Ramgarh Sadar Union in Khagrachari district. Later she was gang raped by abductors Md. Hassan (30) son of Bacchu Company and his friend. The victim rescued after two day from jungle on 16 February 2017.
Victim father alleged that they informed to member of local Union Parishad and Border Guard of Bangladesh about the incident on the following day of the abduction. But they did not get any kind of help from them. After rescuing the victim, local union parishad member organized an arbitration. But victim refused the arbitration and took poison to kill herself for fear of obloquy. The victim was admitted to Ramgarh Sadar Hospital and later she was sent to Khagrachari Sadar hospital for better treatment.
On 18 February 2017 Samacharon Tripura, father of the victim lodged a complaint with Ramgarh police station under Women and Child Repression Prevention Act 2000 (Amended 2003). After lodging the compliant, police arrested Md. Hasan’s elder brother but the main culprits are still in at large.
An indigenous Marma girl attempted to rape and beaten by Bengali settlers in Matiranga
On 20 February 2017 an indigenous SSC examinee was allegedly attempted to rape by two Bengali settlers in Tabalchari of Matiranga Upazila under Khagrachari district. Locals said that, on the day of incident victim of Thailapara village under Tabalchari was returning on her home with her Bengali friend after attending an exam at Kadamtali High School. But on the way some Bengali settlers named Md. Anwar (22) and Md. Imran (22) from Dak Banglow area under Tabalchari stopped the victim and tried to rape her. But anyhow the victim managed to escape to her Bengali friend house. The perpetrators beat the victim by entering into her friend house and ran away.
An indigenous Chakma girl allegedly hacked to death in Khagrachari
On 27 February 2017 an indigenous Chakma girl named Iti Chakma (18) was killed by some miscreants in Khagrachari town. The victim throat had been slit. It is learnt that the victim was a 2nd year student of Khagrachari Govt. College and the daughter of late Ontorindriyo Chakma from Shonkola village under Dighinala Upazila in Khagrachari district. The victim has been staying with her sister Jonaki Chakma, assistant teacher of Banchora Anondomoy Govt Primary School in Dighinala and brother in law Atal Chakma in a rented house at Arambag of Shantinagar area in Khagrachari town.
Atal Chakma said, on the incident day at 9:00 pm when he returned home from outside found the victim dead lying in her bed. Jonaki Chakma said, she mostly lives in Dighinala for her job and her sister and husband live in Khagrachari in the absence of her.
Tarek Mohammad Abdul Hannan, Officer-in-Charge of Khagrachari police station said, the police have recovered some evidence from the crime scene including a chopper by which the victim has been killed. But the police could not find the mobile phone of the victim, he added. No F.I.R has been lodged till the report.
Students of Khagrachari Govt. College organized a protest rally demanding punishment of the killers of Iti Chakma. Hundreds of student joined in the demonstration.
Situation of Civil & Political Rights
Indigenous villagers checked and harassed at Marichyabil in Rangamati
Recently on 24-26 February 2017 indigenous Jumma villagers of Marichyabil area under Balukhali union in Rangamati district were allegedly harassed by the security forces of the local camp. It is learnt that at least 8 villagers were apprehended from Dokan Ghat area of Marichyabil. Of them, 4 villagers were released after 7 hours and rest of the following villagers were allegedly tortured. The victims were identified as Jadi Kumar Tanchangya (22), Tara Kumar Tanchangya (24) and Ashish Tripura (25). They were released on after keeping them at the camp for a night. The houses of the villagers were also searched during the drive and the villagers who were moving through the Dokan Ghat of Marichyabil were checked and harassed.
Situation of the Rights of Land and Natural Resources
27 indigenous families under threat of eviction in Hatchery area in Rangamati
On 13 February 2017 indigenous Jumma villagers comprising 27 families of Hatchery area under Rangamati municipality in Rangamati district formed a human chain in front of office of Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati district protesting against government’s initiative to acquire their homesteads for setting up Rangamati Medical College and Hospital. They submitted memorandum to Prime Minister, Land Miniter, Health and Family Welfare Minister, State Minister for CHT Affairs, Chairman of CHT Regional Council, Member of Parliament of 299 Parbatya Rangamati constituency, Chairman of the Rangamati Hill District Council, Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati district, Circle Chief of Chakma circle at el.
Protesters said that they all are uprooted by the Kaptai dam and also internally displaced families. They were displaced during armed conflict before signing the CHT Accord. They have been staying at Hatchery area since 90s after uprooted from their ancestral lands and homesteads. It is to be mentioned that on 5 February 2017 their houses and homesteads were measured by land staff of Deputy Commissioner’s office with the help of police and army without prior notice to them. Indigenous villagers were informed that they will be evicted soon.
Status of Education, Youth and Children
Govt. nationalizes 210 primary school in CHT
Government has nationalized 210 primary schools in CHT, which were funded under the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF) program of UNDP ended in June 2015. On 20 February 2017 Md. Moniruzzaman, Deputy Secretary of school branch-1, Primary and Mass Education Ministry issued a gazette regarding the nationalization.
In accordance with Section 3(1) of Primary School Acquisition act 1974, the government brought under the control of the Hill District Councils under three conditions. The three conditions include (a) the land, home, enormous fund and all the assets of the school shall be deemed transferred and vested to the government; (b) according to the rules the present management committee of the school shall be dissolved and new management committee shall be formed and (c) according to the school information required number of post will be created for the teachers. After creating required number of post the teachers will be nationalized.
The schools were mainly managed by the Hill District Councils and funds were channeled through the CHTDF. Since the initiation of the project in 2009, 80 in Bandarban, 81 in Rangamati and 49 primary schools in Khagrachari were established. Though only 1 teacher was allocated for each school but with the demand and funding of villagers the teacher’s allocation for each school was increased from 1 to 3.
Ashis Kumar Dhor, Upazila Education Officer of Jurachari said, however nationalization of 210 schools in CHT has been published in the website of Ministry of Education, but no official letter has come along yet he added.
It is to be mentioned that 210 primary schools were established in three Hill District in 2009. Some of them were funded by UNDP-CHTDF and the rest were managed by community own initiative.
Environment and Climate Change
9 persons sentenced for the crime of stone extraction illegally in Bandarban
On 22 February 2017 Ruma Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Shariful Haq conducted a mobile court to stop the illegal stone extraction and trafficking operations in Poli Khal area of Ruma upazila unedr Bandarban district.
Violating government order, stone extractor and trafficker has been operating stone extraction for many days in Bandarban district. On that day mobile court arrested 9 persons who are involved on stone extraction, namely, Nurul Amin (60), so of the late Nurul Ahamed, vill. Buri Cikkana, Faitong, Bandarban; Abdul Rahim (45), son of Ahmed Hussein vill. Baniyachara, Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar; Abdur Rashid (33), son of Monir Alam, vill. Baniyachara Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar; Sirajul Islam (29), son of Jamal Hossain vill. Buri Cikkana, Faitong, Lama, Bandarban; Lal Miah (65), son of late Abul Kachem, vill. Buri Cikkana, Faitong, Lama, Bandarban; Rafiqul (21) son of Abul Hossain Mollah, vill. Buri Cikkana, Faitong, Lama, Bandarban; Md. Zakir (30), son of Murad Maker, vill. Baura, Pach Grams, Lalmonihat; Mahasina (30), son of late Ali, vill. Buri Cikkana, Faitong, Lama, Bandarban; and Al-Amin (18), son of Mohammad Ansar, vill. Buri Cikkana, Faitong, Lama, Bandarban.
Each of them was sentenced to 15 days.
Follow Up
Gaibandha SP transferred to Khagrachari: Civil Societies and Indigenous Peoples express concern
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gaibandha district Md. Ashraful Islam has been transferred to Khagrachari district who served as a SP during the arson attack on indigenous Santal people to drive an eviction at Sahebgonj-Bagda Farm area in Gobindagonj upazila Gaibandha resulting three Santal men killed and 1200 families of Santals made homeless. It is learnt from a video viral in social media that police personnel were involved on setting fire of Santals’ houses of the area to drive the eviction. Gaibandha SP was failed to protect indigenous peoples.
Indigenous peoples and civil society member expressed their concern about the transfer. They said how a men who fails to protect indigenous peoples can transfer to Khagrachari dictrict where indigenous peoples largely concentrated and where communal violence held often. According to an order from the home ministry which was published on 23 February 2017, it is learnt that Ashraful will now serve as the commander of Armed Police Battalion-6 in Mahachari upazila under Khagrachari district.