JusticeMakers voices concern over violence in hill districts of Bangladesh
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Dhaka has called for ensuring the rights of Bangladesh's indigenous communities
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expressed its concern over the recent outbreak of sectarian violence in the hill districts of Khagrachhari and Rangamati.
This wave of violence has led to the tragic loss of lives, the forced displacement of hundreds of ethnic families, and the destruction of homes and places of worship, it said in a press statement today (23 September).
The statement said that the killing of at least four ethnic minority men, including Junan Chakma, Dhananjoy Chakma, and Rubel Tripura, and the arson attack on over 100 houses and businesses in Dighinala, Khagrachhari, represent a grave violation of human rights.
JMBF strongly condemns these heinous acts of violence, which reflect an alarming rise in communal tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
JMBF called on the government of Bangladesh to take immediate and decisive action to restore peace and ensure the protection of all vulnerable communities.
Robert Simon, a prominent French human rights activist, and chief adviser of JMBF said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. The world cannot stand by as ethnic minorities in Bangladesh are persecuted and driven from their homes. We demand accountability and immediate intervention...."
Advocate Shahanur Islam, founder president of JMBF, urges the international community to remain vigilant.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) stands in solidarity with the ethnic minorities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Dhaka has called for ensuring the rights of Bangladesh's indigenous communities.
"We stand in support of the Indigenous communities and all Bangladeshis, recognizing their rich cultural heritage and invaluable contributions to the nation's identity," the embassy said in a post made on its official Facebook page today (23 September)
"Their rights must be respected and upheld, ensuring they are free from discrimination, marginalization, and violence. An inclusive and just society defends the voices and rights of its most vulnerable populations," it added.