The Chittagong Hill Tracts have long been an area of social and political unrest in Bangladesh. With India and Myanmar on either side with shared ethnic populations, it is a geopolitical hotspot. Pranab Kumar Panday discusses the unrest in the region, and why it should act as an important reminder to the Interim Government to address both its long-standing grievances, and more recent ones.
Recent violence between indigenous tribes and Bengali settlers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh has resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals. The death of a Bengali settler from fatal beating by the Indigenous peoples on suspicion of stealing triggered the unrest and consequent violence. This anger, perhaps stemming from frustration, escalated into outright anarchy and rioting, destabilising a region with a longstanding history of social anger. Only military intervention has brought back peace in the region.
Such occurrences have consequences that extend beyond the injuries and deaths, hinting at Bangladesh’s future stability. They raise serious concerns about the country’s political and social stability, and internal security.
The Political Context
The latest violence at the CHT is not unique. The post-Liberation (1971) policies of the Bangladeshi government are responsible for this particular conflict. Following independence, the government endorsed Bengali nationalism and compelled the Indigenous peoples of the CHT to assimilate into Bengali culture, ultimately leading to the rejection of their languages, rituals and lifestyles. Since the early 1980s, a large number of plainland populations have relocated to the region, resulting in disputes over land and resources, intensifying the minority identity of the Indigenous communities who had been living in the CHT for decades.
This underscores the necessity for a democratic governance framework in Bangladesh that respects the rights and cultural traditions of all those residing within its borders. The denationalisation of political involvement has adversely affected Indigenous communities throughout the history of the CHT and, indeed, the whole nation. The 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord addressed land rights, particularly with other ethnic groups, and conferred greater regional authority to resolve these matters. However, after two decades, several essential provisions of the treaty have not been implemented, resulting in dissatisfaction and alienation among the Indigenous populations.
The successive governments’ incapacity to tackle the underlying causes of the conflict and ensure a comprehensive execution of the Treaty have led to simmering tension in the region. The optimism for the nation’s democracy has for long overlooked the unmet demands of the economically disadvantaged, with a significant portion of the populace feeling excluded from the political framework.
Security Concerns and Regional Instability
The CHT hold considerable geographical and political significance for Bangladesh; it is vital for national security as it borders India to its west and Myanmar to the east. Failure to alleviate the escalating regional tensions may result in further unrest and instability in Bangladesh and its surrounding territories.
While the military played a vital role in restoring order following the recent violence, the state’s reliance on military intervention to suppress civil discontent is cause for concern; such coercive peace is always fragile, and never sustainable in the long term. Military deployment to mitigate/suppress socio-political tensions addresses sporadic incidents of violence, not its root causes.
The region is geopolitically susceptible to external intervention. Considering both India and Myanmar possess substantial indigenous populations and face similar challenges, it becomes likely that the CHT conflict may spill over into those countries. The area’s volatility increases the likelihood of organisations or individuals engaging in criminal activities (arms trafficking, smuggling, etc) for personal gain.
The CHT problem is potentially jeopardising Bangladesh’s credibility in regional and global geopolitics as the country has lately established strategic partnerships with other South Asian countries to position itself as an emerging power in the region, and globally. The persistent unrest in the CHT might threaten these endeavours by compromising Bangladesh’s stability in the region.
Social Cohesion and National Unity
The CHT dispute reveals a more profound issue specific to Bangladesh: the challenge of societal cohesion, rendering it inadequate to analyse through political or security lenses only. Identity becomes the primary issue: who precisely owns the right to assert territorial membership and be acknowledged as a complete and equal citizen of the nation. The Indigenous communities has persistently faced threats from the government’s policy of resettling Bengali immigrants, and their consequent designation as an ‘ethnic minority’ through the 15th Amendment of the Constitution.
The CHT are not the only place impacted by the identification conflict. Bangladesh is a heterogeneous nation of several ethnic, religious and cultural groups. While most Bangladeshis identify as Bengalis, substantial minority groups possess unique languages, traditions and cultural practices. The conflict in the CHT highlights the imperative of reinterpreting national unity and the ongoing advancement of Bangladesh in nation-building.
Neglecting the challenges faced by CHT’s indigenous people might have severe repercussions for the treatment of other minorities in the country. The notion that one group is superior to another in terms of territory, wealth and political power, whether real or perceived, fosters circumstances for conflict and division in other areas of the country. As such, the likelihood of public protest and unrest due to change will increase, potentially undermining national cohesion further.
The Role of the Interim Government
During Bangladesh’s current transitional period, the Interim Government (from August 2024 onwards) has a distinct role in tackling the primary issues central to the CHT conflicts, not least because they also need to calculate political issues and electoral considerations. Therefore, they should take the initiative to ensure the complete implementation of the CHT Accord, including the provision of land rights and regional autonomy. Until they gain land rights, the belongingness of the Indigenous peoples will not be strengthened.
The government must appreciate and safeguard the region’s cultural diversity as well. This involves resisting efforts to eliminate the ethnic identity of the CHT population and appreciating the languages, cultures and lifestyles of the region. These measures would not only rectify historical injustices but also foster national unity by displaying the state’s commitment to all its citizens, especially ethnic minorities and Bangladeshis.
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Bangladesh seems to be at a critical juncture owing to the historic and recent violence in the CHT. The nation’s progression toward a more inclusive and harmonious future, or its regression into division and conflict, will be contingent upon the actions of the Interim Government, civil society and the international community.
The issue of CHT should be considered beyond ongoing tensions or conflict. If neglected, these problems might cause security challenges for the nation. Thus, the Interim government must play a critical role in ensuring that the violence in the CHT does not herald of more significant unrest to come but rather a turning point toward lasting peace and stability for all Bangladeshis.
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Banner image © Nishaan Ahmed, Chittagong Hill Tracts, 2019, Unsplash.
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