On 2 February 1992 Bangladesh army backed Muslim settlers killed about 30 indigenous Buddhist people at Mallya. 2 of them were Bablu Chakma and Chittipudi Chakma (6 months), son and daughter of Manek Kumar Chakma. Two bombs exploded at 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 army and settlers massacre 300 indigenous people in Kaukhali

In the morning of 25 March 1980, Bangladesh army and Muslim settlers massacred an estimated 300 indigenous men, women and children at Kaukhali Bazar, Kalampati Union, Betbunia.

The village of Kaukhali is some 6 miles north of Ranirhat village, about 31 miles from Chittagong city in the direction of Rangamati town. Bangladesh government had settled Muslim settlers in Kaukhali area from other parts of Bangladesh during 1980. Bangladesh government settled the new batch of settlers on indigenous peoples' land by forcibly evicting them. Tension had been rising between Muslim settlers and indigenous people in the area.

1. Prelude to Massacre

   Armed conflict between army and Shanti Bahini has escalated recently, often with innocent civilians being used as pawns or scapegoats by the army. On 10 March 1980, a 22 member army patrol led by Major Mohsin Reza in the midst of search-and-destroy mission in the Subolong Bazar area of Barkal was ambushed by the Shanti Bahini. All soldiers were killed.

2. Massacre

   Probably in retaliation to the decimation of army patrol by Shanti Bahini, Capt. Kamal of Kaukhali Bazar Army Camp instructed the indigenous leaders and villagers to assemble at Kaukhali Bazar at 8 a.m. on 25 March 1980 to discuss law and order problem. At the same time, that commander also informed the indigenous people to come at that time for the reconstruction of the Poapara Buddhist Temple.

   The indigenous people reported that at 9 a.m. on 25 March 1980, suddenly Bangladesh army personnel arrived at Kaukhali Bazar and opened fire at indigenous people who gathered there. The Bazar Choudhury Mr. Kumud Bikash Talukder and the Secretary of the Local School Committee Mr. Shashldev Chakma were killed on the spot. The son of Mr. Talukder who serves in a bank at Rangamati alleged that his father was supposed to go to Rangamati for shopping that day and had Tk. 10,000 with him. The money along with the dead body was not found. The age of the ill fated Bazar Choudhury was 60 (sixty) and he had been performing the same duty since British period.

   Almost at the same time Bangladesh army attacked the indigenous people who gathered at Poapara Buddhist Temple. Bangladesh army ordered indigenous people who gathered at Poapara Buddhist Temple to line up and then opened fire on them.

   After the shootings by the army at Kaukhali and Poapara, Muslim settlers joined in attacking the indigenous people with sharp weapons. Bangladesh army and Muslim settlers damaged the Poapara Buddhist Temple and Lord Buddha's image. Muslim settlers and Bangladesh army burried dead bodies in a mass grave at the western corner of Poapara High School. One Guru Das Chakma miraculously survived the massacre. Presumed to be dead, he was left behind with the other dead bodies. He counted 50 to 60 persons were buried together in the grave.

   After Kaukhali Bazar and Poapara, Muslim settlers and Bangladesh army attacked Chelachara, Mukh para, Headmanpara, Tongpara. Mulim settlers attacked the women who took shelter in the house of Mr. Aung Thow Prue Roaza, Union Council member of Kalampati Union. The time was 10 am. Mrs. Rui Mara Ching, a 27 years old woman died on the spot.

   About 30 to 32 indigenous women were forcibly taken by Bangladesh army to their camp. The old and children were released in the evening. But younger women were kept for 3 to 4 days. On their way back, the old women and the children were assaulted by the Muslim settlers. But the police came to their rescue and saved their lives.

   The house of the former Member of Parliament Mr. Chai Thoai Roaza was also looted and demolished in the same way. The Buddhist Temple of his house was also destroyed. He is the Headman of the area.

   Buddhist Monk of the Headman Para Buddhist Temple was injured during the ordeal. The wife of the murdered Bazar Choudhury of Kaukhali and a large number of indigenous women lost their husbands. Many indigenous people were injured by bullets and other sharp edged weapons. Many of the injured persons lifted by military helicopters supposed to be taken to the hospital were missing ever since.

3. Killed

   1. Kumud Bikash Talukdar (Bazaar Chowdhury)
   2. Shashi Dev Chakma (Chairman, Poapara High School)
   3. Aswini Kumar Karbari
   4. Aswini Kumar Chakma
   5. Kalimohan Karbari (Postmaster)
   6. Udayan Kumar Chakma (Headmaster, Baradalu)
   7. Dinanath Chakma (Director, Co-op Society)
   8. Bijoy Kumar Chakma
   9. La Theai Marma
   10. Kalanjoy Chakma
   11. Krishna Hari Chakma

4. Taken to Hospital

   1. Parimal Kanti Chakma- Rangamati General Hospital
   2. Indus Kumar Chakma- Rangamati General Hospital
   3. Ittukya Chakma- Chittagong Medical Hospital

5. Buddhist Temples Damaged and Destroyed

   1. Betchari
   2. Headmanpara
   3. Kashkhalimukhpara
   4. Tanghapara
   5. Rangeypara
   6. Poapara
   7. Choto Dalu
   8. Bara Dalu
   9. Tripuradighi

6. Villages Attacked

   Bangladesh army and Muslim settlers attacked 24 indigenous villages surrounding Kaukhali Bazar. Largest and most affected villages are:

   1. Kachukhalimukh (80 families)
   2. Betchari (80 families)
   3. Rangeypara (70 families)
   4. Choto Dalu (80 families)
   5. Bara Dalu (80 families)

7. Fact Fiding Mission

   Upendra Lal Chakma, a Member of Parliament representing a constituency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, first sought to publicize the massacre at a press conference in Dhaka on 1 April 1980, five days after they occurred. He was unable to determine the precise number of deaths: "The exact human toll is unknown but certainly exceeds 200."

   On 22 and 23 April 1980, a delegation of 3 members of the parliament visited Kaukhali. The delegation consisted of Mr. Shajahan Siraj MP, Mr. Rashed Khan Menon MP and Mr. Upendra Lal Chakma MP.

   On 25 April 1980, the delegation delivered their findings in a press conference at National Press Club, Dhaka. Among other, the delegation demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

8. Government's Action

   Although Bangladesh army did not make any official report to account for the massacre, one informal explanation offerred was that resistance fighters initiated the firings. This explanation seems highly inplausible, for server reasons:

   1. Bangladesh army itself called the preplanned meeting
   2. Muslim settlers who joined in the killing appeared prepared
   3. No casualties were reported from either Bangladesh army or Muslim settlers
   4. Bangladesh army refused an impartial investigation
   5. Bangladesh government had attempted to suppress the massacre news
   6. Demand by member of parliament representing the CHT for full investigation have been totally ignored

   Bangladesh government did not conduct any judicial inquiry of the massacre as demanded by the delegation of opposition members of parliament. Bangladesh government formed a 5 member parliamentary committe to study the political and economic problems of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, apparently without reference to the killings on 25 March. The government never published the report of this committee. The army officers responsible for the massacre continued to serve in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Sources:

1. Amnesty International
2. Press Conference on 25 April 1980 at National Press Club by Fact Finding Team of 3 Opposition MPs