New Delhi: The Global Association for Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (GAIPCHT) on Wednesday  sought immediate actions against death threats issued to the indigenous Chakma leaders of Sajek Union by Major Masud Rana of the 6th East Bengal Regiment of Bangladesh Army for constructing a private college. The GAIPCHT urged Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General Waqar Uz Zaman to file a case against Major Rana under the Army Act of 1952 including Section 27 relating to offences against property or persons of inhabitant where serving, Section 29 relating to house breaking, false alarms, unauthorised disclosures, and Section 41 relating to certain forms of disgraceful conduct. In the same area, the Bangladesh Army constructed "Darus Salam Jame Masjid” on forest lands which is prohibited under the Forest Act of1927.

There are about 33,000 indigenous peoples in Sajek Union, one of the remotest areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.  Because of the remoteness of the area, indigenous peoples in Sajek Union remain one of the most marginalized and underdeveloped communities in the country. In 2025, indigenous peoples undertook the courageous and self-reliant initiative of establishing a private college with their limited resources. However, Major Masud Rana, Commander of the Baghaihat Army Zone has stopped the construction by issuing death threats to the indigenous Chakma leaders.

The Bangladesh Army has turned Sajek Union into a tourist spot by building hotels/resorts and on 24 February 2025, about 45 resorts, 40 restaurants, and 60 houses were destroyed in fire according to hotel and motel owners. In February 2010, six indigenous Chakmas were killed and hundreds of houses, a Buddhist temple and a church were burnt by the Bangladesh Army and illegal Muslim settlers to turn the Sajek Union into a tourist spot.

Though there are no Muslim settlers, the Bangladesh Army constructed "Darus Salam Jama Masjid" on the top of the mountain at Sajek at the cost of US$3,16,000 for the tourists from mainland Bangladesh. The foundation stone of the mosque was laid by then GOC of the army's 24th Infantry Chittagong Division Major General SM Matiur Rahman.

“The Bangladesh Army illegally built a mosque on forest lands but the same racist and religious fanatic Bangladesh Army are now threatening indigenous peoples with death for trying to establish a private college on their own lands”. – stated Sanchay Chakma, Swiss Representative of the GAIPCHT.

In the same communication, the GAIPCHT sought interventions of the Chief Advisor Prof. Mohammad Yunus and Education Advisor Prof. C R Abrar to the Government of Bangladesh to ensure that no obstacle is created for construction of the College by indigenous peoples. The GAIPCHT also sought the interventions of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education and the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples and the diplomatic community against such racist acts of the Government of Bangladesh.