On 19 September 2024, Bangladesh army backed Muslim settlers murdered Dhana Ranjan Chakma at Dighinala. The Muslim settlers injured another 4 indigenous people in the attack.

Bengali settlers murder 1 and injure 4 indigenous men in Dighinala

On September 18, a person named Mohammad Mamun (30), son of late Noor Nobi of Shalbon Modhyopara in Khagrachari, stole the motorbike of a person named Goldy Chakma (45) from Madhupur area of Khagrachari town and was speeding away.

Within seconds, the thief Mamun fell off the bike after hitting an electric pole on the side of the road. Then the nearby indigenous and Muslim settlers came and beat Mamun. As a result of the beating, Mamun became unconscious. Mamun was later taken to the hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

According to the police and several reliable sources, the deceased bike thief Mamun was a professional thief. There were 17 criminal lawsuits pending against him. 14 of them are theft cases, 3 drug related cases.

Immediately after Mamun’s death, the Muslim settlers started spreading communal incitement saying that the indigenous people had killed Mamun.

On 19 September 2024 around 4 pm, the Muslim settlers organized a rally at Dighinala upazila headquarter with communal provocative speech. At the end of the program, the Muslim settlers attacked the indigenous people in Dighinala town with sticks and bricks.

An indigenous man named Dhana Ranjan Chakma, Udolbagan village, Dighinala and another unidentified Muslim settler were seriously injured and died in the attack.

Meanwhile, 4 more indigenous people were attacked and seriously injured. The injured persons are-

1. Lenin Chakma (40), of Kamukochara, Boalkhali. He is in critical condition
2. Kelbin Chakma (42), so of late Joti Basu Chakma, address- Milonpur, Khobakhali, Dighinala. Released from Dighinala Sadar Hospital after treatment.
3. Sabuj Chakma (24), son of Arun Shanti Chakma, address- Milonpur, Khobakhali, Dighinala. Released from Dighinala Sadar Hospital after taking first Aid.
4. Nipan Chakma (56), son of late Bhupendra Bilash Chakma, address- Bowalkhali UP, Dighinala. Released after first aid.

At that time, the nearby indigenous people came forward to save the victims, but the Muslim settlers retreated. When the Muslim settlers were retreating, a group of the army arrived there and chased the indigenous people away.

A few minutes later, the Muslim settlers again armed themselves and came to attack the indigenous people at Dighinala town. Around 5:00 p.m., the Muslim settlers set fire to the Larma Square station bazar at Battala in front of the Bangladesh army. At least 45 shops and houses of indigenous people were burnt down. At that time, the army were seen playing the role of a silent spectator.

A tense situation prevailed between the Muslim settlers and the indigenous local hill people till about 9 pm.

Sources: