A window of my room at the training academy where currently I'm busy in a certificate course training. I watch the city forest from my window and try to feel the natural wilderness that still can be felt in the CHT.
I have been busy for some commitments- for my study, some training (like Local Capacity for Peace) and trekking to Bagakain (Baga Lake, a natural mountain lake in Ruma Upazila under Bandarban Hill District). And, presently, am extremely busy in doing a certificate course on “Applied Conservation Biology and Co-Management”.
Mountains we crossed during our trekking to Baga Lake (Bagakain).
When we gave our start for trekking. In response to Ms. Yasmine’s query- “It would be lovely to hear more about yourself, the region you live in, how it has changed in recent times and reconnect with that part of the world.” I write the following:
About me:
I’m still a novice to know on the critical CHT issues and the world as well, and am engaged in learning many issues on the CHT and beyond, to fulfill my hunger for knowledge and my career as well. I don’t have any desire to be involved in politics but I want to be politically conscious. Some years back my dad wanted to know about my vision of life and I told him “Dad, I always want to do something meaningful.” My dad wanted to know what I meant for “something meaningful”. I want to establish me in the society and lead a life what it actually means and support the downtrodden people who are in distress, to make their life beautiful.
Refugee for life, 28 years on, Nirupa Chakma still hopes for a home. Courtesy: The Daily Star, (www.thedailystar.net) Dhaka, published on the 3rd March 2010.
I’m, however, terribly shocked to watching the wave of communal Tsunami that swept over the CHT during last two weeks, for being most insignificant in numbers and the ethnic backgrounds in the Bengali homogeneity. We’re still frightened as the communal twister is still blowing over though the government is vigil. I don’t know how the democratic, non-communal and progressive forces of Bangladesh and beyond including the Bangladesh government could stand by us during our terrible state. Yeah, still I want to dream for a Sonar Bangla, the prosperous Bangladesh which will ensure democratic governance for a discrimination free society and make the country a haven for the minority indigenous peoples. I want to work for peace whether it is in Bangladesh or beyond.
Mohajanpara, one of the oldest village of Khagarachari Hill District headquarters burns in communal fire. This village was under first attack on 23 Feb. Photo courtesy: The Daily Star, Dhaka. Please read the news on its 26th Feb issue.
I add:
The CHT Region is burning with communal fire resulting to the destruction of Jumma (CHT indigenous hill peoples) traditional villages and the CHT Peace Accord is bleeding for peace which have drew the national and global attention including EU, Amnesty International, Survival International, and Bangladesh Parliamentary Caucus on the Indigenous Peoples and so on. Media has been committed to cover the CHT. Many Bengali readers of internet editions of newspapers have been registering their comments with great sympathy.
Now this communal tension goes beyond the CHT. Let me give an example. Two of my friends had narrowly escaped from sure death when the bus which left Bandarban town at 9.00 pm on 24th of last month for Dhaka was forcefully stopped at Daudkandi by a few persons with heavy bamboo poles. They asked whether that bus was from Rangamati. They searched Chakma passengers. My friends had been able to deceive them by hiding their faces as if they were sleeping. It was possible as it was mid-night. Moreover, the driver and his support staff told the attackers that the bus was from Bandarban. One of the two friends is a close relative of a powerful sitting MP from the CHT. They were two out of eight of our trekking group to our recent Baga Lake trekking. I departed from them at 4.00pm and they left Bandarban town at 9.00pm. I thank God for saving them.
I request:
I request Ms. Yasmine to subscribe Google Alert with the words: Chittagong Hill Tracts, Jumma, Khagarachari and Baghaihat to get more information on the CHT.
It is me when I was heading toward Bangladesh-India-Myanmar tri-junction in last November.
I call upon:
I call upon Ms. Yasmine Barnett to stand by the side of the Baghaihat and Khagarachari victims, especially the women and children who are homeless and suffering from daily essentials, including utensils, medicines, mosquito nets, and etc. the way she can.
