Guwahati, Nov 12: The newly formed Global Association for Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (GAIPC) on Monday urged Dr Mohammed Yunus’s Interim Government to make public the Inquiry Commission Report regarding the attacks on Indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) on 19-20 September 2024.

These attacks, perpetrated by illegal plain settlers and the Bangladesh Army, resulted in the deaths of at least four indigenous persons—Dhana Ranjan Chakma, Junan Chakma, Rubel Tripura, and Anik Chakma. Additionally, over 75 indigenous Jumma people were seriously injured, while at least 142 homes, businesses, and Buddhist temples were looted, destroyed, or set ablaze.

On 26 September 2024, the Chittagong Divisional Commissioner formed a seven-member inquiry committee, led by Mohammad Nurullah Noori, to investigate the incidents. The committee was tasked with submitting a report within 14 working days, by 10 October 2024. The commission visited affected areas in Rangamati on 30 September 2024 and Larma Square Bazar, Dighinala, on 2 October 2024. The committee vowed to uncover the root cause of the violence, compile a list of victims, and provide recommendations for preventing future attacks.

Arunabha Chakma, Co-Convenor of the GAIPC, emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “All indigenous peoples in the CHT are non-Muslims, primarily following Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. Apart from their ethnic origins, they were specifically targeted for their religious beliefs during these attacks. To date, no public statement has been made regarding the inquiry commission report. This lack of transparency undermines accountability and the rehabilitation of affected individuals.”

Samapti Chakma Borgne, a founding member of GAIPC, expressed concerns over the Interim Government’s failure to release the report, drawing comparisons to past governments’ lack of accountability. “It is extremely unfortunate that the Interim Government is following the same patterns of impunity as previous dictatorial regimes. A commission led by Justice Sultan Hossain Khan into the Logang massacre of 10 April 1992 has yet to have its report made public.”

Suhas Chakma, Convenor of GAIPC, further stressed the importance of transparency and accountability. “The Interim Government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Mohammed Yunus, must demonstrate its commitment to human rights by releasing the inquiry report. If the government fails to do so, we will escalate the issue with the United Nations and other international actors to expose the hypocrisy of Dr. Yunus’s administration.”

The GAIPC was established in response to the gross human rights violations on 19-20 September 2024, and it has set up branches in the United States, Canada, France, Australia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Korea, Japan, China, and India.

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