PCJSS Report Alleges State-Backed Communal Attacks on Jumma People in Khagrachhari, Guimara

The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) has published a detailed report highlighting communal attacks against the Jumma people in Khagrachhari and Guimara on 27 and 28 September 2025. The report implicates both Bengali settlers and state security forces in coordinated violence that left multiple Jumma civilians killed, injured, and displaced.

Key Findings of the Report:

According to the PCJSS, on 27 September 2025, a Jumma schoolgirl in class eight was gang-raped by three Bengali settlers in the Singinalla area of Khagrachhari Sadar. Protests erupted in response, leading to clashes between Jumma students, local residents, and settlers. At least three Jumma individuals were seriously injured.

The following day, on 28 September, a joint attack was allegedly carried out in Guimara’s Ramsu Bazar and surrounding Jumma villages by the army, Bengali settlers, and external miscreants. The assault reportedly killed three Jumma civilians and injured over 20 others. The attackers also burned down 54 shops, 26 houses, and 16 motorcycles—all belonging to Jumma residents—causing property damage estimated at BDT 250 million.

Widespread Gender-Based Violence

The report states that between January and September 2025, there were 21 incidents of violence against Jumma women and children, including rape, attempted rape, and sexual harassment. At least 29 victims were documented. The PCJSS claims that justice remains rare, with few credible investigations or prosecutions for such crimes.

Role of UPDF and Political Instigation

The report also accuses the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF)—specifically the Prasit faction—of attempting to hijack student-led protests for political purposes. It notes that members of the UPDF allegedly infiltrated a 26 September rally organized by "Jumma Chatra-Janata" in Khagrachhari, attempting to provoke unrest. Similar allegations were made regarding UPDF’s role in the Guimara incident.

The Bangladesh Marma Student Council (BMSC) clarified that while UKyanu Marma, its Khagrachhari unit general secretary, initially took part in the protests, the organization was not officially involved in the subsequent blockades.

Historical Context and Political Demands

The PCJSS report states that since the 1997 CHT Accord, at least 22 communal attacks have taken place in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), allegedly under the protection of vested interest groups. These attacks, it claims, are part of a deliberate campaign to transform the CHT into a Muslim-majority region, through tactics including land grabbing, displacement, sexual violence, and economic marginalization of the Jumma people.

In conclusion, the report emphasizes that full implementation of the 1997 CHT Accord remains the only viable path to achieving a peaceful and political resolution to the longstanding CHT conflict. It urges the government to:

Initiate a judicial inquiry into the September attacks

Provide compensation and medical support to victims and families

Bring the perpetrators to justice through exemplary punishment