The Parbatya Chattagram Mahila Samiti-PCMS (Chittagong Hill Tracts Women Association) and Hill Women’s Federation (HWF) express vehement protest and strong condemnation over the heinous incident that involved the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel who, at around 10 pm on 22 August 2018, called two indigenous Tripura teens aged 14 and 17 respectively from their home at Ramgati Para of Ward No. 1 of Fasyakhali Union under Lama Upazila in Bandarban Hill District and raped them under gun-point and threatening of death. Along with, both the organizations strongly demand for immediate arrest, exemplary trial and punishment to the BGB personnel involved and ensuring of proper compensation to the victims and full security to their family.
In a press release signed by Suprava Chakma, General Secretary of PCMS and Ashika Chakma, General Secretary of HWF on 25 August 2018, the rights organisations said that three BGB personnel from Banpur Trishdeba BGB camp under 11 Battalion of Naikhyongchari sector, namely, Md. Suman, Md. Maruf and Md. Robiul went to Ramgati Para with arms on that day night at 10 pm. They called the two victims through one Jonerung Tripura, a housewife, and made the victims compelled to follow them to a jungle, a little away from the village. Among the three BGB personnel, Nayek Md. Robiul stood for guarding while Constable Md. Maruf and Constable Md. Suman raped the victims under intimidation of weapon and death.
A case with the Lama Police Station was filed on allegation of rape against the BGB personnel at the night of 23 August 2018. But so far, none has been arrested in connection with the incident as yet. What caused more concern was that the police and intelligence personnel cordoned the Bandarban District Hospital when the two victims were brought there on 24 August for medical test and no person including the relatives of the victims was being allowed to enter the hospital. This makes one recall that during the medical test of the much-talked-about two Marma sisters’ sexual assault incident allegedly by security personnel at Orachari village of Farua Union under Bilaichari Upazila in Rangamati on 22 January 2018, wherein the two victims were kept under confinement of police allowing no visitors in Rangamati Hospital. The said two Tripura teens have also been kept under solitude in the same manner. Yet what much more of concern is that the said house wife Jonerung Tripura was also brought to the Lama Police Station at 5 pm on 24 August, obviously, to direct the event to another course.
The two indigenous women organisations also mentioned that the events of violence against indigenous women and girls have got increased in all the three hill districts in recent days. Especially, since June last, at least 9 such incidents had taken place, such as, one Marma college-going girl was killed after rape on 17 June; one Tripura teen was gangraped by Bengali settlers at District Council Park in Khagrachari on 21 June; a hanging death body of Marma girl was rescued from orphanage of Raozan on 5 July; one Marma house wife was raped by a Bengali settler in Kaukhali on 9 July; one Tripura grade five (student) girl was killed after rape by the Bengali settlers at 9 mile area on 29 July; one Chakma girl with speech disability was raped by a Bengali settler in Longadu on 5 August; a vain attempt to rape one Tripura women by a Bengali settler in Matiranga on 6 August; and one Chakma woman was attempted to rape by a Bengali settler in Baghaichari on 7 August etc.
It is worthy to be mentioned further that sexual violence against Jumma women and girls by the Bengali settlers and security personnel have so far been met no justice and it is for this reason, similar kinds of violence are getting increases day by day and it is not of exaggeration to say that the trend is reaching to its alarming state.