Rights activists yesterday expressed their worries over violations of the human rights of tribal women and children, and blamed the Bangalee setters for creating conditions not conducive to multi-ethnic coexistence.
Chanchana Chakma, president of Hill Women’s Federation (HWF), citing a report concerning Jumma women and children, said tribal communities had to live in fear and anxiety amidst what she called a “hegemonic presence” of Bangalee setters and the Army.
According to the report; which corroborated the findings of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS), HWF and local newspapers; at least 122 Jumma women and children were victimised by setters between January 2007 and December 2012.
Of them, Chanchana said, more than 60 women were either raped or killed and many had to face various forms of abuse and torture.
She was speaking at a discussion on the human rights situation in the tribes, held in the auditorium of the Women’s Voluntary Association.
“Tribal people do not have a level playing field when it comes to business. There are too many checkpoints in Bandarban and Khagrachari, which make you feel as if you are captive in your own land. Additionally, this Operation Uttaran of the Army has also become quite unnerving,” Chanchana said.
She accused army officials of masterminding the abduction of HWF Organising Secretary Kalpana Chakma on June 12, 1996.
Rakhi Das Purkayastha, organising secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, stressed the need for increased awareness of the inequality and discrimination faced by tribal women.
Rokeya Kabir, executive director of Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha, alleged that many army officials posted to the region were leasing land for their own use under false identities.
Among others; Binotamoy Dhamai, assistant general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Dipayan Khisa, a media consultant of PCJSS, Chandra Tripura, organising secretary of HWF, and Rubaiyat Ferdous, a teacher of journalism in Dhaka University; also spoke at the conference.