Bangladesh Army carries out combing ops in 68 villages of the CHT; GAIPCHT urges EU diplomats to visit the region

New Delhi: The Global Association for Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (GAIPCHT) sought interventions of the EU Ambassador to Dhaka against massive military operations carried out by the Bangladesh Army personnel in 68 villages and 10 sub-districts of the CHT since June 19 as part of the strategy of Dr. Mohammad Yunus’ Interim Government to assist the Rohingya armed groups.

The Rohingya armed groups have ramped up recruitment, using religious language to mobilise refugees to fight the Arakan Army.

The Rohingya armed groups mainly operate in the CHT, especially in the Bandarban district bordering Arakan province of Myanmar.

“Through these military operations, the Bangladesh Army is attempting to create an insurgency-like situation in the CHT region just to assist the Rohingya armed groups to fight the Arakan Army. Ultimately, indigenous peoples of the CHT who are being victimised,” stated Sanchay Chakma of the GAIPCHT.

In these military operations, the Bangladesh Army personnel had arrested at least 23 indigenous persons.

The two primary schools—North B Block Government Primary School under Baghaichari Upazila, Rangmati District and UNICEF School at Jagannath Para, under Khagrachhari district— were occupied by the Bangladesh Army personnel, thereby denying the right to education to the indigenous children.

There were also reports of sexual harassment. At 4 am on June 27, 2025, the Bangladesh Army personnel reportedly raided the house of a 58-year-old widow Chusei Marma in Sainguli Para, Guimara, Khagrachari.

They allegedly tied up her 14-year-old granddaughter, Kayu Marma, with rope and interrogated her.

The Bangladesh Army Officers who conducted the military operations included Lt. Colonel Md. Masud Rana from the Baghaichhari Zone, Lt. Colonel Mashiur Rahman of the  17th East Bengal Regiment, Lt. Colonel Zunaid Hossain of the 60th East Bengal Regiment from  Rangamati Sadar, Major Raihan from Dighilana Zone, and Major Arsin Sumon from Khagrachari Zone.

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The GAIPCHT urged the EU diplomats to send a team of diplomats to the CHT to listen to the voices of the victims of gross human rights violations and urged Dr Muhammad Yunus to end cordon and search operations, establish accountability for human rights violations and ensure that the indigenous peoples of the CHTs are not dragged and victimised through its support to the Rohingya armed groups.