Chakma tribals in Bangladesh need protection
When India was partitioned in 1947, the Chittagong hill tract was included in East Pakistan although the area was a Buddhist majority one. Now a land hungry group backed by government wishes to dispossess the Chakma tribals of their forest land.
HISTORY TELLS us that the partition of India into two dominions was rather haphazard. Gilgit was given to Pakistan on a silver platter, so was Lahore and for no rhyme or reason the Buddhist majority Chittagong hill tract was also included in the area called East Pakistan. Chittagong is making international news today. Although the Chittagong hill tract area is a reserve and a protected zone for the Buddhist tribals of the area but surreptitious attempts have been going on for half a century supported by the Dacca government to transfer the surplus Bengali Muslim families from the overcrowded East Bengal and settle them in the forest land. But this move has been opposed and attempts resisted by the Buddhist tribal population, who defend their land, people and religion zealously. Last Sunday, April 17 saw a peaceful sunrise in the area. However, as the day advanced, a horde of Bengali Muslims and their labour force moved into the forest area of the protected land. As they started digging the ground, uprooting the trees and clearing the undergrowth from the reserved land of the Buddhist tribals of the area, their activity was objected to by the Chakma Buddhist tribesmen. When the Bengali Muslim intruders paid little heed to their objections, a war of words started that developed into physical pushing and fisticuffs. In the melee a labourer sustained injuries and died on the spot, two more were moved to the hospital and breathed their last there. One local Buddhist Chakma was also badly injured and kicked the bucket before he could be evacuated to the hospital. BENGALI ARSONISTS As the news of the clash spread, a large number fo Bengali muslim settlers descended over the are and set a large number of Chakma houses on fire. The law enforcing agencies were conspicuous by their absence and if present in small numbers then proved ineffective in controlling the arsonists. In any case, it is common perception of foreign press and other members of the Media that the local administration has all along been sympathetic to the Bengali Muslim settlers and rarely do justice to grievances of the local Chakma Buddhist tribals. With the result the Chittagong tribals remain alienated and confine their activities, economic, social and political to their own ethnic groups in the Chittagong hill tract area. It is rather sad. The blame is invariably laid at the door of the British administrators who were in a mighty hurry to leave and paid scant attention to the ground realities while drawing the pencil line on the map of India to partition the country. CONSTITUTIONAL SOLUTIONS The Islamic Republic of Bangladesh is at present under the rule of a liberal political party founded by Bang Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. His daughter, Sheikh Hasina is the present prime minister. She is secular in her approach and liberal in solving problems. This is the right time for all well intentioned politicians of Bangladesh to hold a round table conference giving the Buddhist Chakma Tribal people a say in deliberations. The main problem is that of land. The land starved Muslim settlers have an eye on the forest land of the Buddhist tribals. It is ethically wrong. Constitutional provisions for protection of tribal land and villages must be buttressed and areas of infringement and loopholes be plugged. After all Bangladesh belongs to the Chakma Tribals as much as to Bangladeshi Muslims from the rear heartland of the plains. It is through education that this new philosophy of national integration can be drilled into the minds of one and all. It has to be understood that the permanent solution lies in harmony that would generate goodwill and peace.
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AUM. Mr H. Larma and Ramesh Ji, Namaste. Thanks to both of you for reading my article and finding time to write comments. Muslims of Bangladesh must learn how to treat the minorities of their country.
My heart too goes out to Chakmas. India may intervene militrily and liberate the downtrodden Chakmas.
My heart bleeds for the grieved Chakma people. Religious persecution against the budhist by Bengali Muslims is a serious concern that requires immediate intervention by India and International bodies. Bangladesh should be punished it continues to persecute the Budhist Chakmas...!
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