The Kuki Human Rights Council (KHRC), an indigenous rights advocacy group, has accused the Bangladesh Army of committing serious human rights violations against members of the Bawm-Kuki tribe in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and has called for international intervention. In a statement issued on December 22, the KHRC alleged that Bangladeshi security forces have carried out unlawful arrests, custodial torture, and killings as part of ongoing security operations in the region. According to the council, these actions have created an atmosphere of fear among Bawm-Kuki villagers and indicate a broader pattern of persecution against indigenous communities.
The rights body cited the arrest of a 30-year-old farmer, Sanglianthang, on December 21. He was reportedly detained on suspicion of having links with the Kuki National Army (KNA). However, the KHRC said local residents and the Kuki National Front (KNF) Media Wing have denied the allegation, asserting that Sanglianthang is a civilian with no militant affiliation. The council demanded his immediate release, along with that of other villagers allegedly being held in custody.
The KHRC also alleged a custodial killing, claiming that Lalramsan Bawm was abducted from his village on December 5 and later found dead inside a military camp. According to the council, the body bore signs of severe torture, and it held army personnel responsible for his death.
Describing the incidents as part of a wider crackdown, the KHRC said mass arrests and detentions have been reported from Jurachari, Dighinala, and Bandarban. It claimed that at least 17 indigenous Jumma villagers, including a 12-year-old child, were detained in one incident and released after several days. The council alleged that the actions disproportionately target the Bawm Christian community and are aimed at suppressing the indigenous identity, culture, and religious freedom of the Bawm-Kuki people. It called for an independent and impartial investigation into the allegations and urged the international community to intervene to ensure civilian protection in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.Reaffirming solidarity with the Bawm-Kuki tribe, the KHRC said it would continue to document what it described as systematic abuses and appealed to international human rights organisations and governments to press for accountability and justice.
