CHT: Rangamati Bomb Blast, Our Concerns and Demands It is undeniable that the threat of radical Islamic terrorist groups has been less in Bangladesh under the present Sheikh Hasina Government than it was under the previous Khaleda Zia Government. It may please those who seek a radical Islamic terror free Bangladesh. And they may like to see the present Government in power for security interests in South Asia. However, it seems they have forgotten the two facts: (1) that the same threat has never been lessened for the indigenous people of Chittagong Hill Tracts -- no matter which Government is in power in Bangladesh -- and (2) that the present Government is not a democratically elected Government. This threat is on rise right in front of the nose of the present of Government. The Rangamati bomb blast today (22.09.2014) targeting Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, the leader of the CHT indigenous people and the Chairman of the CHT Regional Council, testifies to the first fact.* It has security implications for the entire South Asia region, especially given the fact that Al-Qaeda has already established an ISIS’ wing in the country.** This threat needs to be addressed immediately for peace and security in CHT, Bangladesh and South Asia before it is too late, as the case in Iraq and Syria! The people of Bangladesh need a radical Islamic terror free country and a truly democratic Government for their peace, security and development. Unfortunately, both seem to be missing in the country. It is evident in a piece that says, “One and only one… At the same time, Sheikh Hasina’s government has continued to capture the courts, silence media critics and tinker with the constitution to perpetuate its rule. It has a two-thirds majority in Parliament, and its ally, the Jatiya Party of a former dictator, Mohammad Ershad, acts as the loyal opposition. On September 17th Parliament passed a constitutional amendment to give it the authority to fire judges”*** and in the said bomb blast. The Rangamati bomb blast may have a link with the new Bangladeshi wing of Al-Qaeda-ISIS or any of its allies in CHT. It may also be mentioned that earlier the so-called Somo Adhikar Andolan, a CHT based jihadist organization of Bengali Muslim settlers opposing the 1997 CHT Accord, carried out two attacks on members of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission, an international human rights watchdog on CHT.**** We strongly condemn the blast. And for peace, security and development in CHT and Bangladesh we demand: Appropriate security and safety measures for Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma; An independent and impartial national/international investigation into the blast and a white paper on the outcome of the investigation from the investigating members; Immediate arrest and punishment of the persons involved in the blast as per law and ban on the group they belong to -- whatsoever the group is; Implementation of the CHT Accord in letter and spirit without any further delay; and Restoration of democracy and rule of law in Bangladesh. Nikhil Chakma 22.09.2014 =================================================================== *thedailystar.net/blast-near-rangamati-cht-council-office-42834, banglanews24/en/fullnews/bn/99096.html **asianage/international/bangladesh-leader-linked-isis-held-504, Two Pakistanis belonging to Al-Qaeda have already come to Bangladesh more than once and trained their new wing members. Major Sayed Ziaul aka Zia dismissed from Bangladesh military is taking care of the Bangladesh wing of the terrorist group. Amir Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani of the wing has come back from Afghanistan with instructions from Taliban Chief Moulla Omar--- kalerkantho/print-edition/first-page/2014/09/20/130912, srilankaguardian.org/2014/09/zawahiri-wants-look-alike-isis-jihad-in.html ***economist/news/asia/21618888-opposition-takes-break-politics-government-tightens-its-grip-one-and-only-one ****dhakatribune/bangladesh/2014/aug/26/cht-commission-official-injured-attack. Bangladesh: Attack On Human Rights Worker With Impunity? Ms. Hana Shams Ahmed, Coordinator of Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission, an international human rights watchdog on CHT, was attacked by members of Somo Adhikar Andolan, a CHT based jihadist organization of Bangladeshi settlers, on 25 August in Bandarban Hill District. It may be noted this is the second attack on members of the Commission by criminals belonging to the same organization. The first attack took place in July 2014 when members of the Commission visited CHT to study the human rights situation therein. There is a strong indication that the criminals carried out this attack on the tip of a circle -- probably Bangladesh military intelligence agency DGFI -- aware of her visit to Bandarban. Ms. Ahmed came here from Dhaka on a personal visit for sightseeings at the Chimbuk Hill Station along with one of her woman-friends. There are allegations that DGFI officials sheltered and protected Muhammad Emran, the leader of the jihadist organization and the prime accused in the first attack, at one of their disclosed locations in Dhaka while police was searching him for arrest. So a question arises-- why isnt the Government of Bangladesh cracking down the jihadist organization despite its repeated attacks on members of the international human rights body? The organization is, it may be mentioned, responsible for several communal riots, terror attacks, religious persecutions, forcible land grabbing, rape jihad and gross abues of human rights against the minority indigenous people of the region. We are extremely concerned over the attack. We strongly condemn it and demand the followings: (1) Independent and impartial national/international investigations into the attacks; (2) Immediate arrest and punishment of the criminals and their accomplices involved in the attacks as per law; and (3) Ban on Somo Adhikar Andolan before it becomes Iraqs ISIS in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Nikhil Chakma 26 August 2014 =========================================== Rangamati Terror Attack: Our Concerns and Demands We are extremely concerned over the Rangamati terror attack of yesterday (22.09.2014), targeting the leadership of the indigenous people of Chittagong Hill Tracts. Three fundamental questions about the attack: 1. Who are responsible for this attack? 2. What is their objective? 3. What is their link, if any, with other organizations/agencies? These questions need to be investigated, and an independent, impartial and competent team alone can do this job. We, therefore, demand an independent and impartial international investigation into the terror attack on urgent and priority basis for peace and security in our region. Nikhil Chakma 23.09.2014
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 18:13:19 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015