Violence Persists in the CHT, It’s Time to Restore Peace, Security

The recent clashes in Sajek Valley, where gunfire injured seven security personnel and left nearly 3,000 tourists stranded, have once again exposed the fragile security situation in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT). While visitors admire the hills for their natural beauty, residents of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban continue to live with fear and uncertainty. It is deeply unfortunate that a region blessed with such beauty and resources has endured decades of bloodshed without giving its people the security they deserve. Surely, this recurring violence demands more than another assurance of stability.

The scale of the bloodshed makes that failure difficult to overlook. According to a report published in this newspaper on Saturday, thousands of Bengali civilians and around 400 security personnel have lost their lives in the region since 1980. The killings in Bhushanchhara and Pakuakhali remain grim reminders of this painful history. Yet, it is concerning that reports of violence and human rights abuses continue to emerge. The Parbatya Chattogram Nagorik Parishad (PCNP) reported around 240 alleged human rights violations between January and June this year, including 47 abductions and 16 killings. It also alleged widespread extortion and the involvement of children and adolescents in armed activities. Although these claims require independent investigation, they raise serious concerns about civilian safety nearly three decades after the signing of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.

For ordinary residents, these figures reflect the insecurity that shapes everyday life. Extortion threatens local businesses, road blockades disrupt trade and travel, and the risk of abduction leaves families fearing for their loved ones. Meanwhile, recurring unrest damages tourism, undermines livelihoods and deepens economic uncertainty. The damage also extends to public trust. When authorities fail to investigate abuses and hold perpetrators accountable, people may begin to lose faith in the institutions meant to protect them. It is, therefore, unacceptable that communities that have endured decades of violence should still have to question whether the law can safeguard their lives and livelihoods.

Against this backdrop, the government requires to take tough stand to address both immediate security threats and the underlying causes of conflict. Security operations can contain violence; however, they cannot resolve longstanding grievances on their own. The authorities must investigate allegations of killings, abductions and extortion impartially and prosecute those responsible, regardless of their affiliations. They must also review the implementation of the Peace Accord, identify outstanding commitments and take concrete steps to fulfil them. Equally important, meaningful dialogue with hill people and settlers, affected communities, regional organisations and NGOs must accompany these efforts. Regional groups, too, must reject violence and respect civilian rights. Moreover, disputes must be resolved through dialogue and the rule of law, not intimidation. Peace and security in hill tracts are not only linked with security of lives and development of the region but also very important for the country’s sovereignty so that no insurgency can take advantage of the unrest in hills.

Ultimately, the people of the CHT deserve more than repeated promises of stability. We expect the government to protect every community equally, enforce the law without favour and turn the Peace Accord’s commitments into tangible results. These measures must go hand in hand with accountability and a genuine effort to address longstanding grievances. After decades of suffering, residents of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban deserve justice, security and the freedom to build their futures without fear and uncertainly.