Tipra Motha, Chakma students lead stir in Chittagong Hill Tracts
By Rabindra Nath Sinha
Tripura’s most prominent TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman (ex-royal scion) and Chakma student outfits are in the limelight following their successful protests to highlight atrocities against minorities and indigenous people in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh. The interesting part is that Debbarman himself leads from the front but he assigns the responsibility for organising solidarity rallies and other formats of agitation to Youth Tipra Federation (YTF) – TIPRA Motha’s young wing.
The Chakma student organisations which have organised protests in recent days include All India Chakma Students’ Union which has several state-level affiliates. Tripura Chakma Students’ Association, which functions independently of AICU, hit the streets in the state.
The protest organisers have already brought their concerns to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the branch outfit of Bangladesh High Commission at Agartala. The attacks on the minorities – Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Chakmas, Mogs, Garos, Tripuris and some more ethnic minorities – have increased lately after the interim regime in Bangladesh armed the Army with magisterial and policing powers, YTF president Suraj Debbrama told IPA. According to their reports from across the border, several people have lost lives, many hurt seriously and many rendered homeless in CHT.
The attacks were reportedly in reaction to the ‘March for Identity held on September 18 in CHT which saw large-scale participation of indigenous people who demanded constitutional recognition of their rights and implementation in letter and spirit of a 1997 peace accord. The memoranda submitted to the authorities on both sides have spoken of demographic changes resulting from settlement of an estimated five lakh Muslims between 1979 and 1983 which has left the indigenous population marginalised. Injustices suffered by non-muslim minorities since in the area have been exemplified.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on September 23, 2024 Delhi Chakma Students’ Union’s president Milani Chakma and general secretary Tushit Chakma narrated several incidents of barbarity on Jummos (indigenous hill tribes) between September 19 and 20 in CHT’s Khagrachari district. Incidents of violence against indigenous people in another CHT district, Rangamati, too have been cited, adding that perpetrators of violence use mosque loudspeakers to mobilise mobs. Also, security forces with active help from the Army even target association / union office-bearers for their posts on social media platforms. [CHT comprises three districts; the third being Bandarban].
That the protests were gathering momentum was evident on Saturday, September 21 when the state capital was witness to three rallies held separately by YTF, TCSA and Buddhist monks with placards and banners aplenty. ‘Settlers’ from outside, actively aided by the Army, were trying to displace and uproot Tiprasas, Chakmas, Garos, among others as well as religious minorities, such as, Hindu Bengalees, Buddhists and Christians ignoring that together they constituted a significant segment of the population.
It was TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman’s show on Thursday, September 26, 2024 when he chose a spot as close as possible to the border with Bangladesh. At his instance YTF organised a solidarity rally at Sabroom Market in South Tripura district, which culminated in a well attended public meeting, which was also addressed by a prominent woman Chakma leader Debi Chakma. The two leaders demanded an end to the persecution and protection of tribal rights. Pradyot Debbarma reminded the powers-that-be-in Bangladesh that “CHT were once part of our royal family’s domain”.
What are the demands voiced in the protest rallies and representations to authorities on both sides: In general, they want the Bangladesh administration to halt the torture and displacement of minorities and indigenous people. Vice-chairman of TCSA’s standing committee Aniruddha Chakma is, however, emphatic about his association’s demand for return of CHT to India. “The boundary commission then headed by a British lawyer Sir Cyril John Radcliffe ignored the demographic realities at the time of Partition did us injustice which should now be undone and CHT made part of Indian territory’, Aniruddha told IPA.
But, Pradyot Debbraman is strident in his demands. At a news conference in Agartala on September 23, 2024, when he briefed the media on the outcome of tripartite talks in New Delhi on September 21, 2024, he called upon New Delhi to take a stern view and take the issue to the UN, if necessary. He even suggested that if circumstances warranted India should seek sanctions on Bangladesh garment exports.
Emotional attachment, ethnic affinity and occasional contacts with relatives, friends and other acquaintances explain the moves of Chakma student outfits in India. For TIPRA Motha, which has emerged as a political force in the last three years and which is an ally of Bharatiya Janata Party, it is an opportunity to consolidate its position among the tribals and expand its political base. The party has 13 MLAs, two of whom are ministers. It dominates the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
TIPRA Motha’s president Bijoy Hrangkhawl told IPA: “Our party is seeking to expand its activity by involving youths in large numbers. People’s spontaneous participation in our people-centric activity is encouraging youth workers”, he said.
It may be mentioned that Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on its north, south and west. Its border with the neighbouring country measures 856 km, which is 84 per cent of its total border. TIPRA is abbreviation for Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance. (IPA Service)