Bangladesh Says Foreign Arms Fuel Chittagong Hill Violence

Violence Escalates in Bangladesh Border Region Over Alleged Rape Case

Three people died in clashes between protesters and security forces in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh. The unrest erupted after protests over the alleged gang rape of an Indigenous woman turned violent on Sunday. Demonstrators accused the army of firing at peaceful protesters in Khagrachari district, while the army blamed rebel fighters.

Interior Minister Jahangir Alam Chowdhury claimed the violence was being fueled by weapons “coming from outside the country.” He did not name a source, but said the arms were reaching “miscreants firing from the hilltops.” Tensions remain high in the border region, which shares proximity with India and has long faced conflict between Bengali settlers and Indigenous groups.

Protesters said their rally was peaceful until security forces opened fire, killing three people and injuring several others. A student protester told AFP that the demonstration was focused on justice for the rape victim. They claimed the military responded with deadly force despite nonviolent actions like road blockades and public gatherings.

The army’s public relations wing, ISPR, denied using force. Instead, they blamed the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), a rebel group that rejected a 1997 peace accord. According to the army, the UPDF instigated the violence and fired hundreds of rounds from hilltop positions. The UPDF continues to demand autonomy and the removal of military bases from the region.

This renewed violence presents a serious challenge for interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, who took office after the 2024 uprising. With elections scheduled for February 2026, his government must now address rising instability, strained relations with India, and long-standing ethnic tensions.