Dhaka:A total of 316 people have been killed and 490 injured in 372 attacks by armed groups targeting security personnel and civilians in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) over the past five years, as reported by a minister in Parliament on Wednesday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, responsible for the Ministry of Defence in Parliament, disclosed these figures while responding to a question from BNP lawmaker SA Jinnah Kabir during a question-answer session. The session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal.
Of those killed, 308 were civilians, and eight were members of the security forces. Among the injured, 435 were civilians and 55 were security personnel. The minister stated that armed groups executed 194 attacks on Bengali people, 81 on ethnic minority communities, and 97 against security forces in the hill districts during the specified period.
Minister Salahuddin highlighted that the government has implemented various legal, administrative, and security measures to curb illegal armed activities and maintain peace. This includes the continuation of the special military operation, Operation Uttaran, along with intensified patrols and intelligence activities by the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police.
Salahuddin also detailed efforts to combat extortion and illegal arms trafficking, mentioning that the BGB has enhanced the capacity of border outposts to prevent smuggling. Surveillance has been tightened in remote border areas to combat these issues.
In response to concerns raised about the security situation in the Sajek Valley, especially during the tourist season, Salahuddin assured that joint efforts by the Army, law enforcement, and local leaders have stabilized the situation. He acknowledged internal conflicts among armed groups in the area but stated that the situation is currently under control.