KNF must be eliminated now

The song that sings, "Emon deshti kothao khuje pabe nako tumi, sokol desher rani se j amar jonmobhumi (You won't find a country like this anywhere, the queen of all countries, my homeland)," fills us with emotion. But is it really true that Bangladesh is the most beautiful country in the world, truly the queen of all countries? Objectively, this claim may not hold true, but to us, it feels like the ultimate truth driven by our emotions. Our country always appears the most beautiful to our eyes. However, beauty is always relative. Yet, in reality, the most beautiful place in Bangladesh is often its hilly regions.

Three districts like Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban, nestled in the hilly areas, hide an immense natural beauty. The beauty lies in places like the Kaptai Lake and the vast expanse of mountains. Although the cries of the lake being submerged due to hydroelectric projects echo, it still holds a lot of history and memories of many people's lives. The relentless efforts of the patriotic armed forces have changed the face of the mountains. Improved communication infrastructure and the construction of various establishments have further enhanced the captivating beauty of the hills.

However, much of this beauty in the hilly areas often goes unseen due to the echoes of conflict and the clanking of weapons. Even locals fear venturing into these regions, let alone foreign tourists. There was a time when our family home was in Rangamati, and we used to bathe in Kaptai Lake. Back then, the mountains were largely inaccessible. Over the past few years, however, the mountains have become much more accessible. New tourist areas have been discovered, with Sajek now being one of the favorite destinations for tourists. Tourism in the mountains could be a significant source of income for us. But, as mentioned earlier, the fear of weapons deters people from going to the mountains.

At one point, the peacekeeping forces disturbed the tranquility of the mountains. Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, Awami League, upon coming to power after 21 years in 1996, initiated efforts to restore peace to the mountains. On December 2 in 1997, a peace agreement was signed with the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samiti. Though the agreement has not been fully implemented, it marked the beginning of change in the mountains. Despite the agreement, peace did not fully return to the mountains. Various organisations, under different names, have taken up firearms for their own interests.

Last week, Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) militants instilled fear in Ruma and Thanchi of Bandarban. Though militant groups have existed in the hills, such blatant terrorism has not been witnessed in recent memory. Several banks have been attacked consecutively, and many fear attacks on police stations and checkpoints. KNF's vigilantism has been a topic of discussion for about two years. However, they had been organized long before. Nathen Baam, founder of one such group, was a graduate of Dhaka University. After completing his education, he returned to his region but found no job opportunities. Instead, he found employment among the Chakma tribe. This incident enraged him, and he later established a resort and got involved in tourism. But when his business failed, he founded the Kuki Chin National Development Organization (KCND), an NGO. The legitimacy of this NGO's funding is questionable. From KCND, KNF emerged later.

Nathen Baam, the founder of KNF, had collected nomination papers for the 2018 elections, but his candidacy was not approved. KNF began its armed vigilantism in 2022. Since then, its leaders have become increasingly audacious. Before the recent attacks in Ruma and Thanchi, KNF had been involved in at least nine major conflicts in the last two years. Several lives have been lost in confrontations with law enforcement. There are allegations of extortion and even banditry against KNF. However, the news of KNF's recent military training programme for its members in Myanmar has deeply concerned the government.

In the hills, the indigenous or minor ethnic groups are somewhat neglected. However, among the indigenous groups, there is also inequality. The Chakmas are the most dominant among the indigenous communities. Apart from them, there are other ethnic groups who are local within the locality. KNF's ideology arises from their frustration with losing out to the Chakmas in job competitions. KNF's leader, Nathen Baam, has adopted the ideology of Kuki Chin nationalism from personal grudges. KNF claims to represent six ethnic groups – Bom, Pangkhua, Lushai, Khiang, Mro, and Khumi. They claim to represent these groups in six upazilas of Rangamati and Bandarban.

The uneasy situation between Bangladesh and Myanmar along the border has been further destabilized by the conflict between rebels and law enforcement in Myanmar. KNF's recent activities are likely to exacerbate this tension. The news of KNF's communication with the Ku Kie kin tribe in Myanmar is also concerning. They have received training in Myanmar. Foreign Minister Dr. Hassan Mahmud has alleged that KNF is in contact with foreign terrorists. Such communication between foreign terrorists and local militants has increased KNF's agitation. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has announced a crackdown on KNF during his visit to Bandarban. Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed has also announced a coordinated campaign until the militants are eradicated. The operation is ongoing.

Author: Columnist & Head of News, ATN News.