The recent article published in the Times of Israel titled “Biju Lives On: An Indigenous New Year Amid Silent Struggle” by Purna Lal Chakma may appear, at first glance, to be a gentle narrative celebrating indigenous traditions. But upon careful analysis, the article reveals a dangerous cocktail of historical revisionism, sectarian insinuation, and strategic geopolitical provocation— all wrapped in the delicate language of cultural preservation.

This is no benign cultural commentary. It is part of a larger, calculated anti-national campaign designed to internationalize the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) issue and align it with a broader anti-Muslim and anti-Bangladesh rhetoric — with Israel, a state currently facing intense global criticism for its aggression in Palestine, at the center of the narrative. It is time Bangladesh wakes up to the implications of such propaganda and acts decisively to defend its sovereignty, unity, and international standing.

The publication of this article is not coincidental. It comes at a time when Israel is facing unprecedented global opposition, particularly in the Muslim world, due to its brutal military operations in Palestine. Bangladesh, under an interim government, has realigned its passport policy by restoring the words “Except Israel,” marking a clear moral and diplomatic stand in solidarity with the oppressed. before the fall of Hasina govt through a massive uprising, Bangladesh was normalizing its relation with Israel. Awami League government, there were clear signals of an attempt to soften Bangladesh’s longstanding stance against Israel — a shift many believe was orchestrated at India’s behest. The most telling sign was the quiet removal of the note “Except Israel” from Bangladeshi passports, a symbolic and diplomatic red line. India, driven by its own geopolitical interests and its deepening ties with Israel in defense, trade, and surveillance technologies, has sought to nudge Bangladesh toward similar normalization. But such alignment would be a betrayal of Bangladesh’s historical position in the Muslim world, and a violation of the moral stance rooted in our solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Allowing India's strategic interests to dictate our foreign policy is not only dangerous — it undermines our sovereignty and risks dragging us into conflicts that do not serve our national interests.

In response, powerful pro-Israel lobbies and media outlets are not staying idle. The Times of Israel article by Purna Lal Chakma is part of a new soft-power strategy: to paint Bangladesh as an Islamist state persecuting minorities, and to portray Israel as a shared savior and ally of “oppressed” non-Muslims. This narrative is not only deeply misleading but dangerously incendiary.

Chakma’s article argues that the CHT people “strongly wished to join India” in 1947 and were “denied that dream.” This is a long-peddled, historically distorted narrative that ignores key facts:

The CHT was never a part of the Indian Union plan, and the Radcliffe Commission assigned it to East Bengal based on geographic, administrative, and strategic reasoning. No official referendum or documented majority consensus among tribal communities to join India exists. Claims of such are anecdotal and politically motivated.

By repeating this propaganda in an international Israeli platform, Purna Lal Chakma is not just distorting history — he is rekindling separatist sentiment, and indirectly questioning the legitimacy of Bangladesh’s borders. That is not free speech. That is sedition.

The CHT has long been a region of strategic interest— rich in natural resources, bordering India and Myanmar, and housing diverse ethnic groups. Over the past decades, several international NGOs, missionary groups, and now, it seems, Israeli-linked media, have shown growing interest in this region.

This is not out of love for hill people rights. It is geopolitical opportunism. The attempt to draw a parallel between CHT's tribal population and Israel’s fight against Hamas is a gross misrepresentation. Purna Lal Chakma’s comparison is dangerously simplistic and polarizing. To equate the grievances of ethnic groups in Bangladesh — where cultural diversity is constitutionally protected — with Israel’s military campaigns is a cynical attempt to invoke sympathy from the Israeli far-right and Western conservative circles.

This opens the door for foreign interference, potentially using “minority rights” as a Trojan horse to attack Bangladesh's sovereignty.

These Tribal Writers Want an Excuse for Foreign Military Interest in CHT and that possibility should no longer be dismissed as paranoia. The framing of CHT people as natural allies of Israel, victims of “Islamist terrorism,” and suppressed by the “Islamic state of Bangladesh” is intended to attract international intervention or, at the very least, sympathy that can later be weaponized.

This is how “humanitarian invasions” or foreign sanctions are often justified — through media narratives that dehumanize a nation’s majority, question its democracy, and glorify separatist voices. Bangladesh is being set up as the next target of soft-power destabilization.

The government must urgently enhance intelligence surveillance over foreign-funded NGOs, missionary groups, and media correspondents operating in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), ensuring their activities remain transparent and aligned with national interests. Serious questions arise about whether individuals like Purna Lal Chakma are being manipulated as pawns in a broader proxy war, and it is the duty of both local and international journalists to investigate the political and financial backers behind such narratives. Bangladeshi media must expose the geopolitical motives fueling such writings, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should consider formally condemning the article through diplomatic channels for distorting history and inciting religious and ethnic divisions. While many tribal communities remain loyal to Bangladesh, the state must further invest in education, job creation, and infrastructure in the CHT to insulate its youth from separatist ideologies driven by foreign influence. Finally, writings that glorify foreign powers, advocate separatism, or challenge the sovereignty of the Republic should be brought under the purview of anti-sedition laws—freedom of expression must not become a license to conspire against the nation.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts are an integral part of Bangladesh— in land, in spirit, and in shared history. Our tribal communities are not Israel’s foot soldiers, nor are they pawns in the global war of narratives. They are Bangladeshis. Just like the farmers of Pabna, the boatmen of Barisal, and the weavers of Narshingdi. Today, the country must stand united— not just in support of Palestine, but in defense of our own unity, against both external attacks and internal collaborators. The time for polite silence is over. Bangladesh must speak clearly, act swiftly, and remember: sovereignty is not inherited; it is defended every day.