Days after violence broke out in parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of neighbouring Bangladesh, a series of protests rocked Agartala on Saturday against purported violence on Hindus, Buddhists and other indigenous communities there, especially arson and violence in areas such as Rangamati, Khagrachari, Dighinala areas.
Buddhist monks, holding placards and banners condemning the alleged attacks on Buddhists shrines, walked through all major streets of the city demanding a peaceful life for Buddhists and all other minorities in Bangladesh. They also protested against the attacks by “foreign settlers” and the “army”, alongwith alleged looting and vandalism of Buddha statue at Banrupa Maitri Vihar there.
According to Bangladesh news reports, at least seven people were killed and several others injured in the ethnic clash that broke out between indigenous Chakma and Bengali residents in CHT, bordering India and Myanmar. Hundreds of houses have also been burnt in the violence, the reports said. However, the protesters claim there have been 67 casualties so far.
A Buddhist monk from the Tripura Rajya of Raimavalley Bhikkhu Sangha who joined the protest in front of Venuban Bihar Buddhabandir at Agartala, told reporters that Buddhists who are minority in Bangladesh are facing extensive torture. “Buddhist temples are destroyed there. We want justice. So, we have gathered together to register our call for peace and justice and are holding a peace march here,” he said.
The Youth Tripura Foundation (YTF), which is the youth outfit of ruling alliance partner TIPRA Motha, also staged a demonstration at Agartala city condemning the alleged violence in Chittagong Hill Tracts.
“We want the interim government to ensure peace and normalcy are restored in the region. Assaults, intimidation, murder of Buddhists, tribal people, Hindus and others are going on in Bangladesh since the last few days. We came to from social media that over 100 houses were burnt and more than 67 casualties were there. Our bubagra (King) regularly speaks for the protection of minorities across the country and everywhere else,” the YTF activists said.
The agitators led a demonstration outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission office near Agartala Circuit House here and submitted a representation to the Assistant Bangladesh High Commissioner’s office.
The Chakma Students Association also took out a rally at Agartala, condemning the violence on minorities in Bangladesh. The protesters also demanded that Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh be made a part of the Indian territory to ensure people there can live peacefully.
A student protester alleged that Bangladeshi Army and people there have been perpetrating atrocities on minorities since September 19. “Till now, there are reports of at least 67 deaths. We want these atrocities to stop and we also want the CHT to be made a part of the Indian territory,” he said.
“This is a protest rally against the discrimination and atrocities that have been carried out in Bangladesh against minorities – Buddhists and Hindus. People are dehumanised there and situation is turning from bad to worse. There have been indiscriminate firing in which several people, indigenous people both Buddhists and Hindus, have died. We want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and save the minorities. They (attackers in Bangladesh) have crossed all limits. They want to grab all the land and throw out the minorities from there,” Amitabh Chakma, a leader of the Tripura Chakma Students Association, said.
He said all Chakma organisations across the world have united against the alleged atrocities in Bangladesh and appealed to Hindu outfits and other bodies to join hands in the appeal for peace and safety of minorities in Bangladesh.
The agitators demanded to implement the CHT Accord, signed in 1997 between the Government of Bangladesh and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (United People’s Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts), an outfit that controlled the Shanti Bahini militia.
The accord would allow for recognition of the rights of the tribal people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region.
Meanwhile, a team of Indian Chakma leaders also submitted a memorandum to PM Modi on Friday, urging him not to hold any dialogue with Dr Muhammed Yunus, the head of the interim government of Bangladesh, even at the ongoing session of the UN General Assembly and downgrade diplomatic relations with Bangladesh until the lives and properties of the hill tribes and religious minorities are protected in Bangladesh.
The memorandum was signed by Suhas Chakma, founder of the Chakma Development Foundation of India; Rashik Mohan Chakma, Mizoram legislator and Chief Executive Officer of the Chakma Autonomous District Council of Mizoram; Nirupam Chakma, former Mizoram minister and member of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes; Bimal Chakma, Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council member; Professor Gautam Chakma, Humanity Protection Forum president and head of the Political Science Department at Tripura University; Pritimoy Chakma, convener of Chakma Hajong Rights Alliance, and Ashutosh Chakma, president of the All Assam Chakma Society.
Citing media reports, the memorandum stated that the attacks were being carried out in order to counter the growing use of the democratic space by the hill people and drive the hill tribes out of the CHTs and sought to end hostilities in the CHT.
A series of protests rocked Agartala on Saturday against purported violence against Hindus, Buddhists and other indigenous communities in parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts of neighbouring Bangladesh. (PTI Photos) 
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