On the night of April 2, armed terrorists attacked a bank in Ruma police station in the mountainous district of Bandarban, Bangladesh. Miscreants again attacked two banks of Thanchi police station in the same district during the day on April 3. Local media reported that they fired shots. During the first incident, the terrorist group reportedly kidnapped the bank manager, though he was later released.
For a long time, some armed terrorist groups in this region of Bangladesh have been doing various activities to maintain their dominance. As a result, instability prevails in this area from time to time.
After this incident, responsible people told the local media that the main culprit behind this incident was the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF). However, the KNF did not claim direct responsibility for the incident. Based on various signs, the country's law and order forces have confirmed that KNF is behind it. KNF did not protest either. Instead, they keep posting various provocative posts on social media sites.
The main claim of the KNF is that they demand a separate Kuki-Chin region, where only the Kuki-group people will live. That is why they sometimes attack the hill dwellers of other tribes. However, people of their own group are not spared from their oppression. At various times, the people of the mountains are fed up with extortion, murder, disappearance, kidnapping and are leaving the mountains and moving to the city or some other safe haven.
Meanwhile, people's demands started rising across the country to bring them under justice. Some criticize the government. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the spokesperson of BNP, one of the country's opposition parties, said in a press conference that he does not understand why the government is failing to crack down on such a notorious group.
The Bangladesh government wanted to bring the members of this armed group back to normal life through negotiations. First they hold virtual talks by forming a peace committee. Later in a face-to-face meeting, it was agreed to stop the illegal activities. But the attack took place in the area while the talks were going on.
A couple of years ago, they started various activities in the hilly areas. They also held many hostages for ransom. They also trained the members of the militant organization Jamaatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya in exchange of money in their hideout in the hills.
Law and order forces arrested them and several members of Sharqiya after raiding the KNF hideout in deep forest last year. A 'peace establishment' committee was formed to bring KNF members back to normal life. The second meeting with that committee was held on March 5 in Bethelpara. But speculation is rife as to why the KNF suddenly chose extremism in the middle of peace talks. Because of their activities, the initiative of peace talks is under threat. This organization made its debut by announcing the formation of an autonomous state with 9 upazilas of Rangamati and Bandarban. Since then, Bandarban has been troubled by various issues.
Another meeting was scheduled on April 5 to bring KNF members back to normal life. An 18-member peace establishment committee was formed in June 2023 with leaders of various communities under the leadership of Bandarban Hill District Parishad Chairman K. Shai Hla to establish peace. Since then, video conferences have been held between the two parties. In the first direct meeting, four MoUs were signed. Six point demands were presented in the second meeting. In this way everyone was slowly moving towards peace. However, KNF suddenly changed its position and chose extremism.
In such situation on April 4 convener of the peace establishment committee and chairman of Bandarban hill district council K. Shai Hla announced the closure of the ongoing direct and virtual dialogue.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, ‘KNF arranged training for the militants of the country. Army and RAB raided them and removed them. Lately we have been seeing, Kuki-Chin has been making their position known in different ways.’
Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has announced operation against terrorists. He said that strict action will be taken against whoever is involved in the three bank robberies and weapons looting. He said this to reporters at the upazila complex after visiting Sonali Bank in Ruma on Saturday (April 6) after the attack.
Earlier on Friday (April 5) the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) announced the launch of a joint operation against the KNF. RAB's Law and Media Department Assistant Director Khandaker Al Moin said this in a press conference at the Bandarban Zilla Parishad auditorium.
He said, the joint operation of army, RAB, BGB and police will continue till KNF is eliminated.
Since then, at least half a hundred KNF members have been arrested according to the information provided by the law enforcement agencies.
On February 10, 2023, the melted body of the businessman was recovered from the tourist spot Bagalek Para. Locals believe that KNF armed men shot him dead after abducting him. On March 11, KNF members opened fire and injured a truck driver and his assistant. On March 13, one soldier was killed and two others were injured in the KNF attack. On March 14, KNF members tried to blow up a bridge in Ruma area by bombing it. On March 17, the organization kidnapped three people including a former army member. On March 22, the police recovered the bullet-ridden body of Bom Parapradhan in Rowangchari. On April 7, eight people were killed in a shootout between two armed organizations (KNF and UPDF-Gontantric) in Khamtangpara on Rowanchhari-Ruma road. At that time, it was said by the police that the eight people who were killed were from Bam community. Locals said that on May 8, the bodies of three people were recovered from Paikhongpara area, 10 kilometers away from Rowangchari. One of the victims is Sadar Union Ward No. 5 Awami League President. The other two are ordinary citizens. In October 2023, five soldiers were killed in a KNF attack. Later, the joint forces launched an operation claiming that the militant organization was in collusion with the KNF. During this time Jamaatul Ansar Phil Hindal arrested 68 militants of Sharqiya and several KNF. During this time, a large amount of weapons and equipment were recovered. KNF members have refrained from terrorist activities for about seven months, but they are becoming active again and getting involved in the conflict.
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