Army statement on Khagrachhari, Guimara violence

The army has issued a statement on the clash between law enforcement agencies and Jumma students protesting the rape of a schoolgirl in Guimara upazila of Khagrachhari.

Bangladesh Army released the statement on its official Facebook page on Sunday night in this regard.

The statement is as follows:
On September 19, 2024, following the killing of motorcyclist Mamun in Khagrachhari, the main and affiliated organizations of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) tried to create communal instability in Dighinala and Rangamati and clashed with security forces. As a result, three people were killed and several locals were injured. This year, to mark the one-year anniversary of the September 19 incident last year, UPDF and its affiliated organizations organized protest marches in various places in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and tried to prevent a repeat of the incident.

Taking into account the allegations of rape of a schoolgirl in the Singinala area of ​​Khagrachari on the night of September 23, 2025, the suspect claimed by UPDF (Main) Shayan Shil was arrested on September 24, 2025 with the help of the army and taken into police custody. The legal process to ascertain the truth of the incident is currently ongoing. Despite the arrest of Shayan Shil, UPDF's affiliate PCP leader Ukhyanu Marma called for a protest march and a protest human chain in Khagrachari on September 24, 2025 under the banner of 'Jumma Chhatra Janata'. In continuation of this, a half-day hartal was observed in Khagrachari on September 25, 2025 at the call of UPDF. At the same time, various types of propaganda and provocative statements were made online by bloggers residing in the country and abroad and some responsible individuals in the hilly region targeting Bengalis.

On September 26, 2025, under the leadership of UPDF activist Ukhanu Marma and under the influence of provocative propaganda by some responsible individuals in the hilly district including local and expatriate bloggers on social media, tension spread throughout Khagrachari. At one point during the blockade, the unruly locals, instigated by UPDF, threw bricks and stones at the patrolling army. As a result, three army personnel were injured. Considering the overall situation and the issue of provocation, the army dealt with the situation with great patience, restraint and humanity and refrained from using force.

On 27 September 2025, the UPDF and its affiliated organizations once again tried to create riots and disturbances and committed acts of sabotage including shooting at ordinary people including Bengalis at various places, vandalism, attacking ambulances and blocking roads, thereby severely deteriorating the law and order situation in the entire Khagrachari Municipality area. By noon on that day, the overall issue took the form of a communal riot between the hilly Bengalis. Considering the situation, Section 144 was imposed in Khagrachari and Guimara areas by the district administration authorities. In such a situation, the army, BGB and law enforcement forces worked tirelessly throughout the night to bring the situation under control and it was possible to prevent an inevitable communal riot.

After the failed attempt to create communal riots in Khagrachari Municipality area, UPDF and its affiliated organizations completely blocked the Guimara-Khagrachari road by inciting the general public and violating Section 144 in Ramsu Bazar area of ​​Guimara Upazila of Khagrachari district from the morning of 28 September 2025. At 10.30 am today, UPDF workers and terrorists engaged in a chase and counter-chase with the Bengali community of the area. At this stage, when the army tried to control the situation, they attacked the army in a group with indigenous weapons, bricks, slingshots and sticks. In this, 10 members of the army including three officers were injured. At the same time, they vandalized BGB vehicles in Ramgarh area and injured BGB members. During the clash, at approximately 11:30 am, members of the UPDF (Main) armed group from a high hill located to the west of Ramsu Bazar fired approximately 100-150 rounds of automatic weapons at the clashing Paharis, Bengalis and army personnel busy controlling the situation 4/5 times. In this, many of the locals involved in the clash were shot at the spot. In such a situation, an army patrol team quickly went to the area to chase the armed terrorists to bring the situation under control. With the army's action, the armed group quickly left the area.

At the same time, the external miscreants of the UPDF (Main) set fire to Ramsu Bazar and houses and engaged in chases and counter-chase with the Bengalis. At this time, additional army personnel were deployed in the Ramsu Bazar and Guimara areas to control the situation and the situation came under control around 4:30 pm.

It is clear from the observation of the events of the past few days that the UPDF and its affiliates are systematically forcing women and school-going children of the area to participate in their subversive activities in various ways in order to destabilize the Chittagong Hill Tracts. At the same time, efforts are continuing to bring foreign terrorists to different areas of the Hill Tracts with various indigenous weapons to organize communal riots in the Hill Tracts. Today (28 September 2025) in the afternoon, a large amount of indigenous weapons transported by the UPDF terrorist organization was seized at the check post set up by the Kaptai Battalion of the BGB. A passenger bus was seized.

From September 19 to 28, 2025, the issue of destabilizing the Hill Tracts and organizing communal riots without taking refuge in the law by capitalizing on various incidents in Khagrachari and Guimara areas appears to be part of a larger conspiracy. Various evidence in this regard is preserved with the law enforcement agencies. Considering the overall situation of the past few days, the Bangladesh Army is calling on the leaders of political parties of all ethnic groups in the Hill Tracts and the public to behave with restraint. A special request is made to all law enforcement agencies, including the Army, to cooperate in restoring stability in the Hill Tracts. Despite all kinds of propaganda, false propaganda, and provocative activities, the Army is firmly determined to protect the integrity of this integral part of Bangladesh.

The Army is committed to taking any kind of action to ensure the security of all ethnic groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and to protect the sovereignty of the country.