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Key Points

The Rights and Risks Analysis Group has brought alarming reports of racial violence against indigenous communities in Bangladesh to the UN Human Rights Council. Recent incidents include killings by the Bangladesh Army and systematic exclusion of indigenous representation in constitutional reforms. Indigenous students faced attacks when protesting the removal of "Adivasi" references from textbooks. Both RRAG and Global Human Rights Defence are urging immediate UN action to address this escalating discrimination.

Key Points: RRAG Reports Bangladesh Army Indigenous Killings to UNHRC

  • Three indigenous people killed by Bangladesh Army in Guimara village on September 28
  • Over 2,400 attacks against minorities reported in Bangladesh last year
  • Indigenous students protesting in Dhaka were attacked by Islamic fundamentalists
  • Bangladesh removed "Adivasi" references from school textbooks in January
2 min read

RRAG highlights racial violence against indigenous people in Bangladesh before UNHRC

Rights group reveals Bangladesh Army killed indigenous people in Chittagong Hill Tracts, with victims' families too scared to file complaints due to threats.

"Not a single indigenous person or minority was included in the Constitutional Reforms Commission - Suhas Chakma, RRAG Director"

Geneva, October 3

Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), addressed the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and raised the issue of racial violence against indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, as per a release.

Chakma stated that on September 28, three indigenous people were killed by the Bangladesh Army at Guimara village but the relatives of the victims are scared to file FIR because of the threats.

The release stated that last year, on September 19-20, the illegal settlers and the Bangladesh Army killed four indigenous persons, injured 75 others and burnt hundreds of houses of indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts but the government has not made public the inquiry report to provide impunity.

Chakma further stated, "Not a single indigenous person or minority was included in the Constitutional Reforms Commission. The report of the Constitutional Reforms Commission also made no reference to indigenous peoples or minorities, thereby denying their existence in law."

On January 12, the National Curriculum Board of Bangladesh removed the graffiti, which contained the word "Adivasi" or indigenous/tribal, from the back cover of its high school grammar textbook.

When indigenous students went to protest in Dhaka on January 15, they were attacked by the Islamic fundamentalists, the release added.

Chakma urged that the Human Rights Council ought to take effective measures to address such racial discrimination in Bangladesh, according to the release.

His remarks aligned with the concerns raised just days earlier at the same 60th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), where UN-EU Human Rights Officer Charlotte Zehrer from Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD), in her oral intervention on September 26, had also drawn international attention to the precarious conditions faced by ethnic and religious minorities in Bangladesh, calling for urgent action from the UNHRC.

She highlighted what she described as a "deeply concerning" pattern of violence and discrimination.

Zehrer reported more than 2,400 incidents of attacks against minorities in the past year, noting that indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, along with Hindu and Christian communities across Bangladesh, have been the primary targets.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Very concerning situation. The removal of "Adivasi" from textbooks and exclusion from constitutional reforms shows systematic erasure of indigenous identity. This reminds us how important it is to protect minority rights in our own country too.
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Arjun K
2400+ incidents in one year? That's shocking! The UNHRC needs to take concrete action, not just discussions. When people are scared to even file FIRs, you know the situation is dire. Hope the international pressure works.
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Sarah B
While this is concerning, I hope the reporting is balanced and verified. Sometimes these international organizations have their own agendas. But if even half of this is true, it's definitely worrying for regional stability.
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Vikram M
The Chittagong Hill Tracts issue has been going on for decades. India should also play a constructive role in ensuring peace and rights for indigenous people in our neighborhood. Regional stability affects us all.
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Michael C
As someone who has worked in humanitarian sectors, this pattern of violence against indigenous communities is alarming. The international community must ensure accountability and protection mechanisms are put in place immediately.
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Ananya R
When students protesting peacefully get attacked, it shows complete breakdown of democratic values. Every country should protect its minorities - that's the true test of a democracy. Hope Bangladesh government takes this seriously.

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