An atmosphere of fear has gripped several remote hill villages in Bandarban as security forces continue operations against the armed insurgent group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF).
Locals and community leaders allege that, in the name of anti-insurgency, hundreds of innocent villagers — mainly from the Bawm ethnic group — have been arbitrarily arrested or displaced.
While authorities claim the campaign is aimed at apprehending KNF operatives involved in serious crimes, including a high-profile bank robbery and weapons looting, rights groups and residents report a pattern of indiscriminate arrests, particularly targeting poor jhum (slash-and-burn) farmers.
According to Bawm community leaders, more than 3,000 people from at least six Bawm-majority villages in Ruma upazila have fled their homes over the past year, seeking safety in neighbouring areas. Two primary schools in the region have closed due to a lack of students.
The trigger: April 2024 bank heist
Tensions escalated on 2 April 2024, when more than 100 armed KNF members reportedly stormed Ruma’s Sonali Bank branch, looting Tk 1.59 crore and seizing 14 firearms from police and Ansar personnel. The bank manager was also abducted.
In response, joint security forces launched a sweeping operation across the hill tracts. Since then, over 100 people — including women, children, and two thalassaemia patients — have been detained on suspicion of KNF ties.
One of the detainees, 27-year-old Lal Peleng King Bawm, died last Thursday in Chattogram Central Jail after falling ill. Detainees are being held in Bandarban and Chattogram prisons.
Most recently, a schoolteacher from the Khumi community was also arrested, raising further concerns among ethnic minority groups.
Civil society and media voice concern
Prominent voices from civil society and the media are questioning the nature and scale of the crackdown.
Senior journalist Buddhajyoti Chakma told Times of Bangladesh, “The joint forces began their operations six days after the robbery, yet their most intense activity was focused on Bethlepara — a nearby village of the Bawm people — not the actual crime scene. Thalassaemia patients, pregnant women, the elderly, children — everyone was being arrested.”
ATN News Bandarban correspondent Minarul Haque echoed these concerns, saying, “People who were not involved in any crimes should be granted bail after proper investigation. Those in jail, particularly with health issues, must receive adequate medical care.”
He added, “While the KNF incident was undoubtedly a crime, punishing the entire Bawm community for the actions of a few is unjust. If the actual militants can secure bail, why not the innocent villagers?”
Village exodus and education disruption
According to the Bawm Social Council, six villages — Chaihkhyong Para, Salopi Para, Thingdawlte Para, Phainuam Para, Luangmual Para, and Tamlo Para — in the Remakri Prangsa Union of Ruma have become almost entirely depopulated due to the ongoing raids.
Over 3,250 Bawm men and women have taken shelter in the Mizoram state of India. The council states that the total Bawm population in Bangladesh stands at around 13,193, almost all residing in Bandarban.
Police responds
In response to these allegations, Bandarban Superintendent of Police Shahidullah Kawsar acknowledged the displacement but said the police had been in dialogue with Bawm leaders. “Some families have already started returning,” he noted.
On allegations of indiscriminate arrests, SP Kawsar said, “The investigation into the KNF’s robbery and arms theft is ongoing. Determining the actual perpetrators is important. However, no new arrests have been made in this case recently.”
He also clarified that the arrests began six months before he assumed his post. “It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that innocent villagers are not harassed or detained,” he said. Whether the case will be re-investigated is a matter of state-level decision, he added.
SP Kawsar further stated that the administration is working to ensure the safety of Bawm communities and that local peace meetings have been held to promote reconciliation.
Protests
Protests have been held in both Bandarban and Dhaka demanding the release of the detainees. On Friday, during a women-led rally named “Nareer Dake Maitree Jatra” near the National Parliament, the Chakma Rani publicly called for the unconditional release of innocent Bawm women, men, and children.
As the situation unfolds, human rights groups, journalists, and ethnic leaders continue to urge the government to prioritise justice, transparency, and the protection of indigenous communities in the hills.