Press Statement

8 July 2022. The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) strongly condemns the recent
arson attack on the Jumma people at Joysen Para of Maischari union, under Mahalchari Upazila of
Khagrachari district. The CHTC demands an immediate, impartial investigation, compensation to the
victims, and justice to prevent further recurrence of such attacks.

It has been learnt that on 5 July 2022, a group of Bengali settlers numbering between 150-200, led by former
union council member Md Aziz carried out the attack on the above-mentioned Jumma village with the
intention to grab Jumma’s land1. During the attack, the settler group burnt 37 Jumma houses to ashes and
looted everything from the houses (including utensils) before setting fire to the houses. Four Jumma persons
were also injured in the attack; two had to be hospitalized. It has been learnt that for a long time, Bengali
settlers have been trying to grab land at Joysen Para belonging to the Jumma. For years, they have been
harassing and intimidating the local Jumma in many ways, including barring them from using their
crematorial ground. On 16 September 2020, local Police had to come and intervene when residents from
the nearby Sapru Karbari Para tried to use their crematorial space, and Bengali settlers prevented them.
Further, on 14 March 2022, Bengali settlers set fire to a few Jumma houses in Joysen Para. Local
administration and security forces were informed during both incidents. It is further alleged that the recent
attack on 5 July 2022 occurred in the presence of security forces, and security forces did nothing to prevent
the Bengali settlers.

The Commission believes this attack and other previous such attacks on Jumma are the results of the failure
of the government and the security forces to provide security for the Jumma. In the same Upazila, on 26
August 2003, Bengali settlers burnt down 312 houses and killed two Jumma persons (including an eight-
month-old baby) in a communal attack2. The Jumma are yet to receive justice for that incident.

Due to the non-implementation of the CHT Accord, the inactiveness of the land Commission, and the
existing culture of impunity – communal attack on indigenous peoples by Bengali settlers in CHT is rapidly
rising. Such arson attacks are slowly destroying everyday life, cultural essence, and the artefacts of the
Jumma.

1
https://www.newagebd.net/article/175206/37-houses-set-on-fire-in-
khagrachari?fbclid=IwAR3mdqfQMwFoB_cbtlbf8pxv07Zvpwbp4tR5LEcJRvogdFvHw0C9_BqoFn0
2
Amnesty International 2004, AI Index: ASA 13/003/2004
However, recently, the Commission worryingly noticed that when such incidents occur in CHT, for some
reason, our country's mainstream media remains very silent. For example, only one mainstream print media
covered the recent incident of Joysen Para. In this regard, the Commission would also like to urge the print
and electric media of the country to be more sensitive and active in promoting peace and prosperity in CHT.

Finally, the Commission demands an immediate, impartial investigation of the incident of Joysen Para,
compensation to the victims, and justice to prevent further recurrence of such attacks. The Commission also
asks for speedy implementation of the CHT Accord and for the CHT Land Commission to become
functional.

On behalf of the CHT Commission,

Sultana Kamal Elsa Stamatopoulou Myrna Cunningham Kain

Co-chair of the Co-chair of the Co-chair of the
CHT Commission CHT Commission CHT Commission

Members: Shapan Adnan, Lars Anders Baer, Tone Bleie, Bina D’Costa, Hurst Hannum, Yasmeen Haque,
Sara Hossain, Zafar Iqbal, Khushi Kabir, Michael van Walt van Praag, Iftekharuzzaman.

Advisers: Jenneke Arens, Tom Eskildsen, Meghna Guhathakurta.