Romel Chakma, "Naniarchar PCP General Secretary" Dies Following Brutal Torture by Bangladeshi Army

Though the death of Romel Chakma on 19 April 2017 went viral with the social media and caused heightened agony among the masses, no national daily was noticed to publish news on Romel’s death till 21 April. It was not only the case with the national dailies, no news over death of Romel Chakma was seen uploaded on the national & local online portals.

Romel Chakma, an HSC candidate who was held by the army and meted out brutal torture died in Chittagong Medical College Hospital on 19 April 2017 while undergoing treatment. A group of army commanded by G-2 Major Syed Tanvir Saleh arrested him in Naniarchar Bazaar of Rangamati hill district on 5 April 2017. By then Romel was on his way back home after purchasing daily necessities from the market, as there was no examination on that day. It is reported that Romel was then taken to the Naniarchar Army Zone Headquarters and severely beaten up there. As a result of inhuman torture, Romel’s condition became critical. When the army personnel wanted to hand over already feinted Romel to Naniarchar Police Station, the police denied to accept him seeing his serious condition. Then the army got Romel admitted in Naniarchar Upazila Hospital. But as Romel continued to develop deterioration, he was then referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where he died under joint custody of police and army.

With the spread of news of Romel Chakma’s death, the Jumma students and mass people burst into protest in masses. Storm of anguish and protestation ran through the social media and face book. The army of Burighat camp further added fuel to the fire of mass anguish by snatching off Romel Chakma’s dead body from his aggrieved parents and relatives while they were carrying it to home. The mass sentiment got even more tempered when the army, police and local administration took the dead body to jungle some two kilometers off the Hatimara village of the deceased and got the dead body reduced to ashes by continued pouring in petrol and kerosene without paying respect to the traditional funeral rites and rituals and allowing the parents and close relatives of the deceased to be there. The Jumma students and people expressed their strong condemnation over not letting the death body cremated as per religious and traditional rites & rituals by the aggrieved parents and relatives of the deceased.

It is of great concern that though the death of Romel Chakma went viral with the social media and caused heightened agony among the masses, no national daily was noticed to publish news on Romel’s death. It was not only the case with the national dailies, no news over death of Romel Chakma was seen uploaded on the national online portals. It is suspected that the electronic media remained abstaining from publishing such a significant news of killing probably, owing to strictness on already imposed restriction or lacking of boldness in media sector or due to ‘self-imposed restriction’ on part of the media, itself. However, a few national online portal were seen publishing out the death news of Romel Chakma on 21 April 2017.

On 21 April 2017, ‘The New Age’ in its news head titling ‘Blockade on Khagrachari-Rangamti road protesting death of student in custody’ says: “Hill people in Rangamati put blockade on Rangamati-Khagrachari highway on Friday protesting against the death of a HSC examinee in custody after ‘torture’ and ‘snatching away his mortal remains’ by administration.”

The New Age also cited that “One of Romel’s uncle, who requested not to publish his name, told the New Age that when Romel’s mortal remains reached Burighat of Naniyarchar, military personnel took away the body on Thursday night and burnt it in their custody without following religious rites and tradition on Friday. ‘They also took the karbari our village and one of our cousins along with Romel’s body. They allowed none other to be there. We heard that they had picked up a Bhante (monk) from somewhere but there was no religious or traditional ritual when they burnt the body,’ said the uncle over telephone. ‘I have never heard of such inhumane act. They even did not allow any of the family members to see Romel at hospital,’ he said. He also said Romel’s father became ill following death of his son.Meanwhile, Abdul Latif, the Officer-in-Charge of Naniyarchar police station, said Romel was cremated around noon time in presence of Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Kaukhali, Azgar Ali, who is also in-charge of Naniyarchar Upazila, one magistrate and seven to eight policemen at Purba Hatimara under Burighat union.”