Bangladesh CHT in Turmoil: Four Tribal People Killed, Homes Torched in Alleged Army-Settler Attack

Khagrachari (Bangladesh): At least four indigenous tribal people were killed and over 40 injured in the Guimara area of Khagrachari district in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) on September 28, 2025, in an alleged crackdown involving the Bangladesh Army and illegal settlers. The violence, which saw tribal homes burned down, targeted the Marma/Mog community and followed days of protests demanding justice.

The incident occurred after five days of widespread demonstrations led by the Jumma Chatra Janata. The protests were sparked by the gang-rape of an 8th-grade indigenous Marma girl by illegal settlers on September 23 in Singhinala village. Demonstrations had escalated due to the failure of authorities to arrest the perpetrators.

According to a statement released by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), Bangladesh Army personnel allegedly opened "indiscriminate firing" on the peaceful protestors before allowing Muslim settlers to set fire to tribal houses in the Ramsu Bazaar area under Guimara.

Suhas Chakma, Director of RRAG, described the incident as premeditated. "Instead of arresting the rapists, the Bangladeshi Army personnel have been violating the rights of the indigenous peoples' protestors and today resorted to the killing of the peaceful protestors," Mr. Chakma stated, adding that the military allowing the burning of homes showed the killings were systematic.

The RRAG has strongly condemned the violence and called for urgent international intervention. The group appealed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene against the “systematic attacks” by downgrading diplomatic relations with the unelected government of Dr. Mohammad Yunus. Furthermore, RRAG announced that the killing of innocent indigenous peoples would be raised at the ongoing 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this week.