Mosque built on forest lands, but tribals threatened with death for trying to build a college: GAIPCHT seeks actions
Press release desk
shottobani
London: The Global Association for Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (GAIPCHT) sought immediate actions against death threats issued to the indigenous Chakma leaders of Sajek Union by a Major of the 6th East Bengal Regiment of the Bangladesh Army for constructing a private college. The GAIPCHT urged Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General Waqar Uz Zaman to file a case against the Major under the Army Act of 1952 including Section 27 relating to offences against property or persons of inhabitant where serving, Section 29 relating to house breaking, false alarms, unauthorised disclosures, and Section 41 relating to certain forms of disgraceful conduct. In the same area, the Bangladesh Army constructed “Darus Salam Jame Masjid” on forest lands, which is prohibited under the Forest Act of 1927.
There are approximately 33,000 indigenous peoples in the Sajek Union, one of the most remote areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Because of the remoteness of the area, indigenous peoples in Sajek Union remain one of the most marginalised and underdeveloped communities in the country. In 2025, indigenous peoples undertook the courageous and self-reliant initiative of establishing a private college with their limited resources. However, the Commander of the Baghaihat Army Zone, has stopped the construction by issuing death threats to the indigenous Chakma leaders.
The Bangladesh Army has turned Sajek Union into a tourist spot by building hotels/resorts and on 24 February 2025, about 45 resorts, 40 restaurants, and 60 houses were destroyed in a fire, according to hotel and motel owners. In February 2010, six indigenous Chakmas were killed and hundreds of houses, a Buddhist temple and a church were burnt by the Bangladesh Army and illegal Muslim settlers to turn the Sajek Union into a tourist spot.
Though there are no Muslim settlers, the Bangladesh Army constructed “Darus Salam Jama Masjid” on the top of the mountain at Sajek at the cost of US$3,16,000 for the tourists from mainland Bangladesh. The foundation stone of the mosque was laid by then GOC of the army’s 24th Infantry Chittagong Division.
“The Bangladesh Army illegally built a mosque on forest lands … Bangladesh Army are now threatening indigenous peoples with death for trying to establish a private college on their own lands.” – stated Sanchay Chakma, Swiss Representative of the GAIPCHT.
In the same communication, the GAIPCHT sought interventions from the Chief Advisor, Prof. Mohammad Yunus, and the Education Advisor, Prof. C R Abrar, to the Government of Bangladesh, to ensure that no obstacles are created for the construction of the College by indigenous peoples. The GAIPCHT also sought the interventions of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education and the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the diplomatic community against such racist acts of the Government of Bangladesh.