On 2 February 1992 Bangladesh army backed Muslim settlers killed at least 30 indigenous Chakma Buddhists at Mallya. One of them was Mrs. Suradini Chakma the wife of Manek Kumar Chakma. Two bombs exploded on a river ferry at Mallya. The explosion killed a passenger and seriously injured the skipper of the ferry. The survivors swam ashore but the armed Muslim settlers were waiting for them and attacked the indigenous Chakma Buddhists - men women and children.

Bangladesh armed forces massacre indigenous people at Logang

On 10 April 1992, a few indigenous Chakma Buddhist women were grazing their cows at their Logang cluster village. At about 12:00 noon, 2 Muslim settlers armed with big and broad knives assaulted and attempted to rape the indigenous Buddhist women at knife point.

The indigenous Chakma women defended themselves and cried for help. Having heard their cry for help, an indigenous man came to their rescue and asked the Muslim settlers to leave the indigenous women alone. The Muslim settlers did not pay heed to his advice. Instead of going away they attacked the indigenous man and hacked him to death. One of the Muslim settlers was also injured in the scuffle.

After killing the indigenous man, the Muslim settlers rushed towards the Bangladesh Rifle's (BDR) camp and the indigenous Chakma women also fled to their village.

On arriving at their village, the indigenous Buddhist women found that a very big agitated and armed mob of the Muslim settlers, Village Defence Party (VDP), Ansars (Islamic Guards) and BDR was advancing towards the Logang cluster village and shouting bloodicurdling Islamic slogans.

Very soon the Muslim settlers and Bangladesh armed forces encircled the entire cluster village and massacred the innocent indigenous villagers. Eye witness accounts of the massacre state:

"Homes were set on fire and the village became a cremation ground. The inhabitants of Logang village were forced into their homes and locked in before the military set fire to their houses. Women, children and old people were the main victims. 0ver 1200 indigenous people have been burnt alive in their homes. Local authorities estimate that more than half of Logang's 1500 homes were burnt to the ground, indicating that at least 1200 people lost their lives".

The Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS) was unable to asses the exact loss of life and property because of the following difficulties:

1. Bangladeshi armed forces cordoned off the entire area of the Logang cluster village immediately after carrying out the massacre
2. Bangladeshi security personnel meticulously removed all the dead bodies and secretly disposed them
3. Bangladeshi security forces strictly restricted the movement of the indigenous people in the area
4. Many indigenous families had no survivors to tell the story
5. It was not possible to contact all those indigenous people who miraculously managed to survive the massacre

JSS's report should be treated just like the tip of the ice berg. Despite the above mentioned daunting difficulties, the JSS was able to ascertain 230 cases of death and 150 cases of injuries. The following victims were among the dead:

1. Mr. Pyarimohan Chakma (73), son of Karbajya of Taraban Chara village in Logang area
2. Master Dhanamani Chakma (1) of New Shankhola Para village in Logang area
3. Mrs. Mallika Chakma (35), wife of Mr. Boisisto Moni Chakma of Bana Vihara village in Logang area
4. Mr. Haridas Chakma (70), son of Mr. Sukra Dhan Chakma of Shankhola Para village in Logang area
5. Master Khoipeda Chakma (15), son of Mr. Rajendra Chakma of Rajendra Karbari Para village in Logang area
6. Mr. Kali Kumar Chakma (70), son of late Purna Chokkya Chakma of Taraban Rajmohan Para village in Logang area
7. Miss Chittibi Chakma (3), daughter or Mr. Bimalendu Chakma of Taraban Rajmohan Para village in Logang area
8. The son of Mr. Darogya Tripura (5) of Ramani Para village in Logang area
9. Miss Prana Chakma (3), daughter of Mr. Amiya Kanti Chakma of Rajmohan Para village in Logang area
10. Mrs. Juddapudi Chakma (45), wife of Mr. Golakka Chakma of Dhuduk Chara village in Logang area
11. Master Tana Chakma (11), son of Mr. Amiya Kanti Chakma of Surja Mohan Para village in Logang area
12. Mrs. Kala Chogi Chakma (45), wife of Mr. Raj Chandra Chakma of Srikuntima Chara village in Logang area
13. Master Junidekya Chakma (8), son of Mr. Bimalendu Chakma of Taraban Rajmohan Para village in Logang area
14. Miss Tanakko Chakma (6), daughter of Mr. Pideya Chakma of Surja Mohan Para village
15. Mr. Khagendra Tripura (42), son of Gyanendra Tripura of Makkafa Para village in Logang area and so on

The following indigenous people are among the injured victims:

1. Master Dhaneswar Chakma (10 months), son of Mr. Areibua Chakma of Srikuntima Chara village in Logang area
2. Mrs. Anilama Chakma (60), wife of Mr. Tibujya Chakma of Srikuntima Chara village in Logang area
3. Miss Indumati Chakma (15), daughter of Mr. Prabhat Chandra Chakma of Srikuntima Chara village in Logang area
4. Master Shanti Ranjan Chakma (14), son of Mr. Bakka Chakma of Srikuntima Chara village in Logang area
5. Miss Sumita Chakma (22), daughter of Mr. Jamini Chandra Chakma of Rupasen Member Para village in Logang area
6. Miss Ashadevi Chakma (22), daughter of Mr. Rajmohan Chakma of Rupasen Member Para village in Logang area
7. Mrs. Ananga Lata Chakma (28), wife of Mr. Chikanya Chakma of Shan Khola Para village in Logang area
8. Miss Surjyamika Chakma (20), daughter of Mr. Rajmohan Chakma of Rajmohan Para village in Logang area
9. Mrs. Sandhyadebi Chakma (28), wife of Mr. Madhu Ranjan Chakma of Dhuduk Chara village in Logang area
10. Mrs. Kalabi Chakma (50), wife of Mr. Raj Chandra Chakma of Macchua Chara village in Logang area
11. Mrs. Chaturpudi Chakma (70), wife of Mr. Gulakka Chakma of Dhuduk Chara village in Logang area
12. Mrs. Indra Mukhi Chakma (70), wife of Mr. Thuttya Chakma of Dhuduk Chara village in Logang area
13. Miss Priya Bala Chakma (18), daughter of Mr. Judisthir Chakma of Rajendra Master Para village in Logang area
14. Mrs. Koripedi Chakma (50), wife of Mr. Banga Chakma of Jaga Para village in Logang area
15. Mrs. Kumari Chakma (45), wife of Mr. Denga Chakma of Jaga Para village in Logang area and so on

Following Bangladesh armed forces personnel and Muslim settlers led the Logang massacre:

1. Habibur Rahman, Subedar, 24th Battalion of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)
2. Sarwar Hossain, Nayek Subedar, 24th Battalion of the BDR
3. Keramat Ali, Village Defence Police (VDP) Comander, in charge of Logang Union and Chengi Union of Banchari sub-district
4. Siddikur Rahman, VDP Platoon Commander
5. Mohammad Nur Mia, a member of Ansar (Islamic Guards)
6. Habildar Jalil, a member of Ansar
7. Lokman, a member of Ansar
8. Sirajul Islam, a Member of Logang Union Parishad (local government)
9. Kazi Hanif, a Member of Logang Union Parishad
10. Habib Ullah, a Member of Logang Union Parishad
11. Mohammad Maqbul Mia, a Muslim settler
12. Mohammad Idris Mia, a Muslim settler
13. Sultan Kazi, a Muslim settler
14. Mohammad Iliash, a Muslim settler
15. Jollya Mia, a Muslim settler
16. Mohammad Jamal Khan, a Muslim settler
17. Mohammad Jamshed Bhuian, a Muslim settler

Bangladesh government's attempt to conceal the Logang Massacre

Bangladesh Government as usual attempted to hush up the Logang massacre. It misled the press and the international community by giving them false information and at the same time by concealing all the evidence of the massacre.

In a joint statement, a group of 23 politicians, University professors, writers, lawyers, journalists, human rights activists and student leaders said-

"Bizu the traditional new year celebration of different ethnic minorities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh was scheduled to be celebrated on 12, 13 and 14 April, 1992. At the invitation of the Bizu Celebration Committee we went to Khagrachari District on 11 April. On that day all national daily newspapers reported the same piece of news: that 1 Bengali and 10 Jumma people were killed in an attack by the Shanti Bahini. We expressed our desire to go to Logang in order to know the facts. On 12 April 1992, on our way to Logang we were stopped by military personnel from Panchari camp on the grounds that it was unsafe for us to proceed further. On our way back to Khagrachari we met with many eye witnesses and victims of the incident. We also met with representatives of the local authorities. From this we reached the clear conclusion that a massacre had occurred in the village of Logang. The Ansar and VDP in collaboration with Bengali miscreants had attacked the Chakma and Tripura cluster village in reprisal to the death of a Bengali youth. More than 400 houses were burnt to ashes and more than 200 children, women and elders were killed. We are distressed by the disgraceful attempt of the authorities to suppress the facts of the incident. Having observed the actual situation and discussed it with the authorities and with different sections of the local community we have come to understand that the area is clearly under military control. There is no freedom of press and no freedom for journalists to do their work. Local civil administration is also under regional military control. Freedom of movement is severely restricted."

Survival International contacted the Bangladesh High Commission in London to comment on the Logang massacre. The latter simply denied the incident. On May 18 1992, Survival International and other human rights organisations held a demonstration outside the High Comission (in London) and personally handed in letters to the Head of Chancellery. than asked to comment on the massacre, he again denied that there had been any killings at all.

Under heavy international pressure, Mr. Abdul Matin Chowdhury (Home Minister) and Begum Khaleda Zia (Prime Minister) had to visit Logang cluster village on 25 April 1992 and 13 May 1992 respectively.

Instead of punishing the Bangladeshi security forces and the Muslim settlers Mr. Chowdhury blamed the Shanti Bahini for the Logang massacre while he was addressing the inhabitants of Logang at Pujgang High School ground (near the Logang cluster village).

Begum Khaleda Zia let the cat out of the bag when she told the people of Logang, Khagrachari and Dighinala that- "There would be further incident like that of Logang in the future if the Shanti Bahini kills any Muslim". Her unveiled threat has not only confirmed the official hand in the Logang massacre but it has also petrified the indigenous people with fear for their lives under the rule of the Khaleda Zia Regime. Like her cruel husband Gen. Ziaur Rahman she does not care the lives and properties of the indigenous people of the CHT.

The public media in India, Britain, Sweden, America, Australia and so on and various human rights groups all over the world and many compassionate Governments have kindly intervened in the Logang massacre. As a result the Khaleda Zia government has not only failed to cover up the said massacre entirely but it has also been compelled to set up an inquiry into the Logang massacre. Perhaps, it is important to note that the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh is trying to trivialise the Logang massacre as far as possible. So the result of the government appointed enquiry will not be true, reliable and credible.

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