The Asiapost News

Unsettling developments have emerged in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts following an arbitrary decision by Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government, to establish a so-called “humanitarian corridor” to Rakhine State, as proposed by the United Nations. This one-sided decision has intensified tensions in an already politically fraught nation. Against this backdrop, disturbing incidents are being reported by residents of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region designated for the corridor and home to indigenous communities for centuries.

On Thursday, a young woman from Naikhongchhari Upazila in Bandarban District, Anu Nu Marma, posted on Facebook at approximately 5:00 PM local time, reporting a grave incident. She claimed that her younger sister, Akiu Marma, was abducted by members of the Myanmar military from Krokyang Chak Para in Naikhyangchhari’s Dochhari Union two hours earlier. “I have filed a complaint with the military, but they only said, ‘We’re looking into the matter,’ and have done nothing further,” she wrote. “I appeal to the people of Naikhongchhari to come forward and help my family. Please share this and beware of the Burmese terrorists.” A local correspondent has verified the report.

Nearly 24 hours later, no visible action has been taken by the military to rescue Akiu Marma, according to sources. The situation has taken a distressing turn, with the victim’s family facing online harassment from individuals described as Bangladeshi Islamist cyber-terrorists. Rather than offering support, these groups have targeted Anu Nu Marma’s family with offensive and derogatory comments. In a subsequent Facebook post, Anu Nu Marma expressed her anguish: “We are helpless today. Why are you making such vile comments on our personal photos? You even targeted a picture of my baby girl. We are human beings like you. We may be hill people, but Bangladesh is my country too. I was born here. I hope you will stand by us in our time of crisis.”

This alarming episode has shocked Bangladesh’s educated populace, with civil society voicing deep concern. Compounding the issue, local Bangladeshi media have remained conspicuously silent, and neither the government nor local authorities have issued any statements regarding the incident.

Adding to the unease, reports surfaced last month during the indigenous water festival on 16 and 17 April, showing that members of the Arakan Army, an armed group from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, crossed approximately 10 kilometres into Bangladeshi territory. Locals in the Remakri Jhirimukh area of Tindu Union, Thanchi Upazila, claimed that Arakan Army members participated in the festival alongside indigenous hill communities. Following the event, the group reportedly shared images on social media, further amplifying local fears.

Such incidents have sparked widespread panic and contributed to national unease. Analysts warn that these events, combined with ongoing political instability and broader South Asian tensions, including India-Pakistan relations, could precipitate a significant national crisis if not addressed promptly. Experts urge immediate action to restore calm and ensure the safety of vulnerable communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.