On 17 February 2014, at 10:30 am Parbatya Chattagram Mahila Samiti (PCMS) and Hill Women’s Federation (HWF) organized a procession in protest of murder after raping of Sabita Chakma by Muslim Bengali settlers at Chengichor area of Kamalchari union under Khagrachari sadar upazila of Khagrachari Hill District.
The protest rally started from the district office of Parbattya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) in North Kalindipur and having a turn at Banarupa Petrol Pump, gathered in front of the New Market where a brief public meeting was held. The meeting was presided over by the Ms Chanchana Chakma, President of the Hill Women Federation, and moderated by Rimita Chakma, General Secretary of the organization. Sharat Jyoti Chakma, Assistant General Secretary of PCJSS Rangamati district branch spoke on behalf of the PCJSS, among others.
The speakers strongly condemned and protested against the killing of Sabita Chakma after raping on 15 February at Chengichor area. The speakers expressed their concerns over the perpetrators not being arrested even after two days of the incident. They also expressed grave concern over repeated failures on the part of administration in arresting and bringing the culprits to trial almost in all such cases. As a result, it has become an act of impunity by default and that the perpetrators are being encouraged in committing to such heinous crimes against humanity, said the speakers. It is non-implementation of the CHT Accord and the land disputes of the CHT not being settled, and above all, the Bengali settlers for not being rehabilitated outside CHT, the crimes of this sort are continuously being conducted. That’s why the administration would be held liable for such barbarism upon the indigenous women ? warned the speakers.
The speakers also demanded immediate arrest of the culprits who were involved in raping and killing of Sabita Chakma, and to set an exemplary punishment; provide adequate security to Sabita Chakma’s family; immediate settlement of the CHT land problems by amending the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001; rehabilitate the Bengali settlers outside the CHT with dignity and immediate implementation of the CHT Accord. They also warned that if the perpetrators were not basted, the call for tougher movement would be made.
In the morning of the day of incident, Sabita Chakma(30), wife of Deba Ratan Chakma and also mother of a child, went out nearby the Chengi River to collect fodder for their cattle. Her neighbors saw her collecting grass till noon. When the neighbors went back home for their lunch Sabita was still cutting grass. But as Shabita did not come back home, her husband along with the villagers started searching for her on the spot. It was learned that after searching for a long time, the villagers found the naked dead body of Sabita Chakma inside a bush at around 5:30 p.m. The police of Khagrachari police station and military of Bhuachari camp jointly rescued the dead body from the spot of occurrence.
It was also learnt that, during the time of the incident, some Bengali laborers were loading up a truck with sand near the crop field. Incidentally, Sabita’s sandal, sweater, sickle and the puddle sack were found by the place where the said Bengali settlers were collecting sand. Apparently, after killing her, the dead body was then put inside the bush just 10 to 12 yards away from that spot. The villagers alleged that the Bengali laborers who were loading sand killed Sabita Chakma after raping her, because Sabita’s stuffs were found near by the truck. The villagers also alleged that they have noticed some clear marks of grease, Mobil and oil on the dead body. The Bengali settlers also snatched off the gold chain from Sabita’s neck. . Besides, the laborers who were engaged in extracting sand during the incidents were identified as-
(1) Md. Razzak, resident of Bhuachari cluster village (however staying at Ganja Para)
(2) ZiaulHaque, resident of Bhuachari cluster village
(3) Md. Anowar, resident of Bhuachari cluster village.
(4) Md. Nizam, resident of Bhuachari cluster village.
After the search was over the dead body was taken to Khagrachari sadar hospital for autopsy. It was learnt that, a rape and murder case was filed by the deceased’s husband Deba Ratan Chakma, but till now no one connected to this incident was arrested.
It is worth mentioning that, the Bengali settlers residing in Bhuachari Cluster Village of Kamalchari, have been identified to have been creating panic among the Jummas and to have involved in communal attacks, killing, raping, etc. crimes for the purpose of land grabbing. Similar crime was also committed on 1st August 2011, in which the Bengali settlers killed Pratima Chakma (32) of Kamalchari village. At that time husband of Pratima Chakma, Mr. Priti Bikash Chakma filed a case with Khagrachari police station, but police did arrest none.