Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) is forcing the common hill people mainly Bawm or Bom community in the Bandarban to help them in their anti-state activities.
The KNF is led by Nathan Lanchew Bom, whose whereabouts is unknown. His wife is a local teacher and works as a family planning consultant. The couple has one child. His wifes whereabouts is also not known, according to sources.
"Kuki-Chin has a strong influence in these areas. In Chin State, the National Defence Force [NDF] is fighting against the Myanmar government.
Most of the NDF members are also Kuki-Chin. Many Kukis have also gone to Mizoram from Bangladesh. Unrest has been created there over this issue also," sources said.
According to sources the CHT region is almost close to becoming a major drug route. Drugs emerge at the scene of any armed unrest, they said, adding that the narcotics trade is basically a means to earn money to procure arms.
More than 100 members of the insurgent group were arrested while a number of them were killed in fighting between the joint forces and the KNF.
The members of the insurgent organisation, also known as Bawm Party, most of whom are below the age of 30 do not follow their top bosss orders and are reportedly threatening the inhabitants for extortion, looting their foods and torturing them. They are also forcing the common people to help them in their anti-state activities.
Several hundred people of the Bawm or Bom community in the area had no option but to leave the country and take shelter at their relatives houses in the neighbouring countries, said sources.
Besides, the trade and commerce in some areas have shrunk, leaving the inhabitants struggling for survival, said some elected representatives in different upazilas of Bandarban.
Uhla Ching Marma, Chairman of Ruma Upazila Parishad, said the members of the KNF haunt some remote villages at night.
He said many people of the Bawm community left the country for two reasons - one is for the attack of the KNF members and another, the fear of arrest by the joint forces.
Shoimong Marma, Chairman of Ruma Sadar Union Parishad, said more than 1,000 people of the Bawm community went to Mizoram in India over the last few months.
The number of the Bawm community people in Bandarban is about 12,000, said sources. In February this year, the KNF members kidnapped Paindu Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Uhramong Marma and his UP members and demanded Tk 2 lakh as ransom.
Sources said business activities at Bogakain Lake Para, Mulnaipara, Darjeeling Para, Mungsa Para, Rumana Para and some other areas of Thanchi and Ruma have almost halted.
On June 27, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui told reporters that the joint force operations will continue until the KNF is eliminated. The KNF was formed in 2008. It began to commit its menace in 2016.
The KNF evolved from the Kuki-Chin National Development Organization (KNDO), founded in 2008 to uplift underprivileged ethnic minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Over time, the KNDO transformed into an armed group, eventually becoming the KNF in 2017.
The KNF has been active on social media platforms like Facebook, showing their armed training and making demands for a separate state.
They have also called for international intervention to support the formation of their new state
They want to establish a separate government in nine upazilas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts: Baghaichhari, Barkal, Belaichhari and Jurachhari upazilas of Rangamati hill district and Ruma, Thanchi, Alikadam and Rowangchhari upazilas under Bandarban.
On April 2 and 3, the armed members of the KNF stormed into three branches of Sonali and Krishi banks in Thanchi and Ruma and kidnapped a manager and looted around Tk18 lakh.
"They [Kuki-Chin] are now demanding autonomy for a large area in Bandarban. However, they are yet to mention the Kuki-Chin controlled areas on the other side of the border in this connection."
The Thanchi upazila administration imposed a ban on tourist travel for an indefinite period from June 27. Saikat Shahin, Superintendent of Police in Bandarban, denied the menace of the KNF in the area. He claimed that a peaceful situation prevails in the area.
