On 20 April 2008 Bangladesh army backed Muslim settlers attacked and burnt down 76 indigenous Buddhist houses in Sajek. The aim of the attack was to drive out the indigenous Buddhist villagers and grab their land. The indigenous Chakma Buddhists and their burnt down houses after the attack.

Bengali settlers attempt to grab indigenous Buddhist land in Maischari

On 6 September 2015, a Muslim settler named Mohammad Anwar (26) son of Mujibul Islam from Joysen Para built a house on lands belonging to Moti Lal Chakma (55) son of late Nagendra Chakma at Maischari in Mahalchari, Khagrachari district. Mohammad Anwar is trying to grab his 3 acre teak plantation.

Moti Lal Chakma lodged a complaint to the civilian administration of the Mahalchari sub district. The Mahalchari UNO, the OC and the 2-IC of Mahalchari zone visited the spot. The UNO asked both the parties to maintain status quo, but no Muslim settler representative was present when he said this.

On the same day i.e. 6 September, another Muslim settler named Mohammad Abu Sayeed from Joysen Para built a house on Chikan Dhan Chakma’s land in West Joysen Para. He has an estimated 3 acres of land in his possession.

On 7 September, Mohammad Ershad and Mohammad Phul Mian from Joysen Para tried to grab 2 acres of land belonging to Bhaga Dutta Chakma (45) a member of Maischari Union Council and resident of West Kiyangghat. Muslim settlers cleared jungles and leveled earths to build houses there.

Local indigenous people alleged that Maischari Awami League president Mohammad Gias Uddin is instigating the Muslim settlers to grab indigenous people’s land in the area.

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