Aizawl: An indigenous rights organisation has alleged that at least 154 people were affected by human rights violations in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) during the first six months of 2026, blaming security forces, armed groups, Bengali settlers and Rohingya militants for a range of abuses.
In a half-yearly report released recently, the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) said it documented 57 incidents between January and June, including killings, attacks on civilians, land disputes, alleged arbitrary military operations, violence against women and continued militarisation in the southeastern hill region.
According to the report, 10 people were killed during the period. It said 24 incidents involved members of the security forces and law enforcement agencies, while 12 were attributed to armed groups that it described as army-backed, including factions of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), the Marma Liberation Party and the Kuki-Chin National Front.
The report also blamed Bengali settlers, land grabbers and Rohingya militants for 10 incidents involving killings, assaults and land disputes.
PCJSS criticised the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government, alleging that it had made little progress in implementing the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord since assuming office earlier this year.
The organisation alleged that the government continued to rely on military deployment rather than political dialogue to address the region’s long-running conflict.
It also questioned the administration of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs following the resignation of Minister Dipen Dewan in June, alleging that the ministry’s current administration under State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin was inconsistent with the spirit of the peace accord.
The report further alleged military operations in indigenous villages, destruction of homes and farmland, establishment of new Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camps, land acquisition disputes, abductions for ransom, extortion, ethnic violence and attacks on indigenous women and girls.
It also alleged attempts to convert members of indigenous communities to Islam through financial incentives and educational programmes.
According to the report, 11 incidents of violence against indigenous women and girls, including alleged rape, attempted rape, murder and harassment, were documented during the reporting period.
The allegations made in the report could not be independently verified.