Dhaka: At least 120 people, comprising members of both Bangalee and ethnic minority communities, were killed in infighting between extremist outfits United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) over the past year, Lt (retd) Saifullah Khan Saif, president of the Ex-Forces Association, disclosed at a seminar on Wednesday. The seminar, titled 'Restoring Peace and Sovereignty in the Chittagong Hill Tracts,' was held at the Jatiya Press Club.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Saif elaborated that 96 incidents of gunfire related to internal rivalry among hill groups occurred in the region over the past year. These incidents involved around 21,000 rounds exchanged between the warring factions, resulting in the reported fatalities. He alleged that extortion in the region amounts to Tk 1,000-1,200 crore annually across 41 sectors, with the Santu Larma-led JSS collecting the largest share, approximately Tk 450 crore.
Saif claimed that government officials are aware of the extortion activities, yet no action has been taken. He stated that individuals refusing to pay are executed in public, and accused Santu Larma of holding meetings abroad against national interests. Furthermore, he alleged that UPDF leader Prasit Bikash Khisa recently demanded Tk 3 crore in extortion for the installation of a mobile tower, while Michael Chakma has been collecting extortion openly without facing arrest.
The Ex-Forces Association proposed seven measures to restore peace in the Hill Tracts. These include resisting armed groups, reviewing the CHT Peace Accord, taking legal action against those involved in anti-state activities, increasing Army camps and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Border Outposts (BOPs) in the hills, establishing permanent Army camps in conflict-prone areas, bringing ethnic residents under the income tax net, and allowing Bangalees to purchase land in the CHT.
Speakers at the seminar emphasized the urgent need to restore peace in the CHT at any cost, even suggesting the establishment of an Army cantonment in the region if necessary.