The Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network (AYIPN) expresses its deep outrage and calls for justice for the survivor of rape and the killings of three Indigenous Peoples in the tragic incidents that have unfolded in Khagrachari Hill District, a district of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh since September 23, 2025.
The alleged gang rape of a 12-year-old Marma schoolgirl by Bengali settlers has once again highlighted the ongoing cycle of sexual violence, impunity, and systemic marginalization faced by Indigenous Peoples in the CHT.
The incident sparked widespread protests led by Indigenous student and youth groups under the banner of Jumma Chhatra Janata (Jumma Students and Peoples). These peaceful demonstrations calling for justice were met with hostility, repression, and violent attacks. The escalation reached a devastating peak on September 28, when clashes in Guimara Upazila reportedly left at least three Indigenous peoples dead, several others severely injured, and more than a hundred homes, shops, and properties belonging to Indigenous Peoples destroyed.
We strongly condemn the heinous sexual violence against the Marma schoolgirl and the subsequent violence targeting Indigenous Peoples during their legitimate and peaceful protest actions. These incidents are not isolated but rather rooted in the longstanding culture of impunity, militarization, and unresolved land and identity issues in the CHT.
The AYIPN calls for:
- A free, fair, and impartial investigation into the gang rape case and all acts of violence and destruction committed in Khagrachari, with perpetrators held fully accountable under the law.
- Immediate justice for the survivor of the sexual violence and protection for her family from intimidation and retaliation.
- Accountability for the killings and violence in Guimara, ensuring that those responsible for firing live ammunition on protesters and enabling Bengali settler attacks face due legal consequences.
- Humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation for the Indigenous families who have lost lives, homes, and livelihoods in this violence.
Furthermore, AYIPN emphasizes that these recurring incidents of violence cannot be separated from the longstanding oppression against the Indigenous Peoples in the CHT. The militarization of the region has fostered fear and insecurity among Indigenous communities while emboldening perpetrators of violence. The government’s continued failure to fully implement the 1997 CHT Accord has left Indigenous Peoples vulnerable and without adequate political, legal, and land rights protections.
We urge the Government of Bangladesh to demilitarize the CHT region and implement the CHT Accord immediately to solve the CHT problem and ensure peace and justice for Indigenous Peoples in CHT. We remind the Government of Bangladesh of its obligations under international human rights law, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), given that the survivor of rape is a child. These international standards demand that states take concrete steps to protect Indigenous Peoples, women, and children from violence, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and uphold the right to safety, dignity, and justice.
The Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network stands in full solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of the CHT during this time of grief and struggle. We urge civil society, human rights organizations, and the international community to stand in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples of the CHT, to closely monitor the situation, and to actively support demands for justice, accountability, and peace.
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