Barbaric attack on hill people in Khagrachari: Demand for judicial investigation

Staff Correspondent

At least three hill people have been killed and several others seriously injured in a brutal attack on the hill community in Khagrachari. The attack also involved shooting and arson. The Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) has expressed deep concern over the violence. The organization has demanded a full, independent and impartial judicial investigation into the incident.

In a statement on Monday, HRFB said, “Hill communities have long been victims of injustice, discrimination and oppression. They have the right to peacefully express any reasonable demands. But it is repeatedly seen that violent methods are being adopted by state and private forces to suppress these demands.”

The statement further said that the responsibility of law enforcement agencies should be to behave with restraint, responsibility and respect for human rights. However, excessive use of force and oppression in the name of law enforcement is repeatedly seen in the hills. This is putting the lives of ordinary hill citizens at extreme risk.

HRFB believes that the most urgent thing now is to ensure impartial justice for each incident, ensure treatment for the injured, and ensure proper compensation and rehabilitation for the affected families.

The statement demanded speedy trial for the Pahari girl who was raped in the incident and ensuring her and her family’s safety. At the same time, it was identified as the moral responsibility of the state to ensure fair compensation for every Pahari citizen killed in the violence, treatment for the injured, and rehabilitation of the affected families.

The organization further calls for a peaceful and constitutional solution to the crisis by avoiding violence, incitement, and repressive behavior in the hills. Only through justice, protection of human rights, and proper implementation of the law can the ongoing crisis in the hilly region be resolved.