Prepare by Surjyo Dhan chakma, Editor in Chief, Changhma Times 







Khagrachhari | October 5, 2025

The Jumma people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) — comprising Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Lusaai, Bawm, Pankho, Khyang, Khumi, Mro, and Chak communities — have for centuries lived in harmony with nature, preserving their ancestral culture and traditions. Yet, behind the beauty of their hills lies a tragic story of loss, discrimination, and unending struggle.

Their life story is not merely a tale of existence, but a continuing battle to survive with dignity in the face of land dispossession, political neglect, and human rights violations.

1. The Pain of Losing Land and Homesteads

The deepest wound in the lives of the Jumma people is the loss of ancestral land — the very soul of their identity and livelihood.

  • Land Grabbing and Displacement: The influx of non-indigenous settlers and state-backed development projects have uprooted the Jumma people from their centuries-old lands and forests, destroying their traditional Jum cultivation system and weakening their economic base.

  • The Kaptai Dam Tragedy: The construction of the Kaptai Dam in the 1960s submerged vast stretches of fertile land along the Karnaphuli River, displacing over one hundred thousand indigenous people and drowning entire villages. To this day, many families remain landless and uncompensated.

  • Legal Vulnerability: The customary land rights of the Jummas find little protection under national law, forcing them into endless legal battles to reclaim what was once theirs.

2. The Struggle for Political Rights and Autonomy

For decades, the Jumma people have sought constitutional recognition and regional autonomy, a dream rooted in their longing for peace and self-determination.

  • Conflict and Militarization: Years of military presence and operations such as “Operation Uttoron” have turned their homelands into zones of fear. Even after the signing of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, daily life remains under surveillance and uncertainty.

  • Unfulfilled Promises: Nearly three decades later, key provisions of the Accord — including land dispute resolution, withdrawal of military camps, and the empowerment of local councils — remain largely unimplemented. The resulting frustration and alienation continue to fuel the people’s discontent.

3. Human Rights Violations and Insecurity

The Jumma people live under constant threat of violence and exploitation.

  • Targeted Violence Against Women: Reports of rape, abduction, and sexual violence against Jumma women by settlers and security forces continue to surface, with very few cases seeing justice. This ongoing impunity has instilled deep fear and trauma among the hill women.

  • Cultural Suppression: There have also been attempts to dilute Jumma identity through forced religious conversions and the distortion of indigenous languages and history in educational materials, challenging their efforts to preserve their spiritual and cultural heritage.

4. Economic and Environmental Crisis

The loss of land and deforestation have crippled the once self-sufficient hill economy.

  • Collapse of Traditional Agriculture: Environmental imbalance and deforestation have reduced the fertility of Jum cultivation lands, resulting in poor harvests and food insecurity.

  • Enduring Poverty: Without access to their forests and farmlands, many indigenous families are now trapped in extreme poverty, depending on seasonal labor or migration for survival.

Recent Tragedy: The Khagrachhari–Guimara Violence

The Jumma people’s long history of suffering took another dark turn with the recent communal attacks in Khagrachhari and Guimara in late September 2025.

1. Origin of the Incident: Rape and Protest

On the night of September 23, 2025, an eighth-grade Marma girl was gang-raped by three Bengali settlers in the Singinalla area of Khagrachhari Sadar while returning home from tuition. The incident sparked outrage, with hill students and the local community launching peaceful protests demanding justice and safety for indigenous women.

2. The Outbreak of Violence in Guimara

During a peaceful blockade on September 27–28, Bengali settlers — allegedly backed by the Army — launched brutal attacks in Ramsu Bazar and nearby Jumma villages.
Shops and houses belonging to indigenous residents were set ablaze and looted, turning the area into a scene of devastation.

At least three Jumma individuals were killed, more than 20 were injured, and over 50 shops and 26 homes were burned to ashes. The government imposed Section 144 to control the situation, but fear and tension continued to haunt the region.

3. Aftermath and Humanitarian Crisis

Hundreds of families fled their homes in panic, seeking shelter in safer areas.
Human rights groups and international organizations condemned the attacks, calling for an independent investigation and the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

The Ongoing Struggle for Justice and Peace

For the Jumma people, the sorrow of the Chittagong Hill Tracts is not just a historical wound—it is a continuing reality. From the loss of ancestral land to the violation of basic human dignity, their journey remains one of resilience in the face of injustice.

Until the full implementation of the 1997 CHT Peace Accord and the recognition of the Jumma people's rights, identity, and culture, the dream of lasting peace in the hills will remain distant.

Their cry for justice continues to echo across the hills—
A cry for land, dignity, and the right to live as who they are.

Reported by the Changhma Times News Desk