Bandarban arson attack: A stark reminder of Bangladesh’s failure to protect indigenous rights

Sanjoy Kumar Barua

The recent arson attack that destroyed 17 homes belonging to Bandarban’s Christian Tripura community is yet another stark reminder of Bangladesh’s persistent failure to ensure the safety and security of its Indigenous and minority populations.

While official reports attribute the violence to a land dispute, the incident reflects the longstanding marginalization of indigenous communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), as well as the state’s failure to implement lasting solutions for these complex issues.

This attack is more than a criminal act; it is a consequence of decades of systemic neglect, impunity, and unresolved grievances rooted in the failure to implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accord.

Signed as a landmark treaty to end decades of armed conflict, the Accord promised self-governance, land restitution, and the formation of a Land Dispute Resolution Commission to address the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples.

However, more than 26 years later, the Accord remains largely unimplemented, and the promised Commission has failed to deliver meaningful results due to political resistance and administrative inefficiency.

The Bandarban arson attack is emblematic of these failures.

Locals believe the incident is part of a larger ploy to grab indigenous lands—a grim but all-too-common tactic in a region where Bengali settlers have steadily encroached upon indigenous territories.

Beginning in the late 1970s, state-sponsored migration programs brought hundreds of thousands of Bengali settlers into the CHT, fundamentally altering the region’s demographics.

A 2002 study by Zobaida Nasreen and Masahiko Togawa revealed that the indigenous population in the CHT dropped from 91% in 1959 to just 51% by the late 1980s, as settlers displaced indigenous communities.

Between 1979 and 1985, approximately 200,000 to 450,000 Bengali settlers were resettled in the region, often with state support, leading to violent land disputes that persist to this day.

Over 100,000 Indigenous families were compelled to flee to neighboring India during this period, seeking refuge from violence and displacement.

Although some returned in the 1990s, they faced renewed challenges in reclaiming their ancestral lands due to weak legal protections and powerful settler-backed interests.

The attack in Bandarban also exposes the deep corruption and impunity that have allowed land-grabbing practices to flourish.

Allegations linking this incident to disgraced former police IGP Benazir Ahmed—who is under investigation for corruption—highlight how power dynamics continue to favor elites at the expense of marginalized communities.

Even after the fall of the previous government, the legacy of its policies continues to harm indigenous populations, who remain vulnerable to violence, displacement, and exploitation.

The government’s response so far has been inadequate. While law enforcement has arrested four suspects, justice for the victims requires more than arrests—it demands a comprehensive investigation that addresses the systemic causes of such violence.

The Land Dispute Resolution Commission must be empowered to operate effectively, free from political interference, and its mandate must include resolving disputes with transparency and fairness.

The victims of this attack also need substantial support to rebuild their lives.

Beyond immediate relief, they require long-term assistance, including financial aid, legal representation, and physical security.

The government must also take proactive measures to prevent future incidents by addressing the systemic inequalities that allow such violence to persist.

The Bandarban arson is not an isolated incident but a reflection of the broader failure to respect and protect the rights of indigenous peoples in the CHT.

Moreover, this incident underscores the urgent need to fully implement the CHT Peace Accord.

Over two decades after its signing, critical provisions remain unfulfilled. Land disputes remain unresolved, military presence in the region has not been fully withdrawn, and indigenous self-governance remains a distant promise.

Without full implementation, the Accord risks becoming a hollow document, incapable of addressing the deep-seated grievances of the region’s indigenous peoples

The government must take bold and decisive action to fully implement the CHT Peace Accord, ensure justice for the victims, and address the systemic inequalities that fuel violence and land disputes.

Anything less will only perpetuate the cycle of injustice, leaving Bangladesh’s indigenous communities to bear the brunt of the state’s indifference.

Bangladesh must boldly reaffirm its commitment to human rights, equality, and the rule of law, ensuring the protection of indigenous and marginalized communities.