Major Activities in 2021

3 January 2021
Mithun Chakma’s third death anniversary observed
Commemoration meetings were held for Mithun Chakma, a UPDF organizer and a former president of the Hill Students’ Council, in Khagrachari, Rangamati and Dhaka on his third death anniversary. He was killed in broad daylight by military-backed vigilantes on this day in 2018 in Khagrachari town.

19 January 2021
Protest against attempted rape by army
The Hill Students’ Council held a protest demonstration in Dhaka against attempted rape of a Jumma woman by an army soldier in Bandarban district.

The incident, involving a mother of a child, reportedly took place in Tainkhali Bazar Para area of Rajvila Union No. 1 under Bandarban Sadar Upazila.

The rally was held on Dhaka university campus, and was presided over by Shubhashish Chakma, president of PCP Dhaka unit and moderated by Ripon Jyoti Chakma, its general secretary.

Amal Tripura, organising secretary of the PCP central committee, Arnob Chakma, assistant organising secretary of PCP Dhaka unit and Rajeeb Kanti Das, general secretary of Bangladesh Students’ Front (BSD) Dhaka university unit, also addressed the rally.

The leaders condemned the attempted rape of the Jumma housewife and demanded that the army man who committed it be brought to justice.

They also called upon the government to take stringent measures to prevent further recurrence of such incidents of rape and sexual assaults in the CHT.

February 04, 2021
Students and youth conference in Sajek
A students and youth conference was held at Sajek of Ranganmati district under the auspices of the local unit of the United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF). While over one hundred and a half students and youth participated in the conference, many others could not make it to it due to obstructive activities of the army.

The main theme of the conference was ‘The youth who idle away their time in times of national adversity cannot be called youth’, and it was presided over by Akkoy Chakma, coordinator of UPDF Sajek unit, and moderated by Action Chakma, an organiser of the said unit.

The conference was also addressed by Sachib Chakma, a member of the central committee of the UPDF and Jiko Tripura, general secretary of Democratic Youth Forum.

The participants pledged to speed up the struggle for full autonomy, land rights and dignity of the Jumma girls and women.

Later a five point resolution was passed at the end of the conference.

February 19, 2021
Four organisations hold protest demo, demand cancellation of tourist resort scheme
The demonstration was held in Chattogram (formerly Chittagong) to demand that the Sikder Group and Sena Kalyan Trust stop constructing a tourist hotel and return the land on which it is being construced to the Mro community in Bandarban. The demonstrators also called upon the government to concede to the five point demands of the Mro people.

Jointly organised by four associate organisations of the UPDF, namely, Democratic Youth Forum, Hill Students Council, Hill Women’s Federation and CHT Women’s Association (Nari Sangha), the demonstration was addressed by Shuvo Chak, Amit Chakma, Shohel Chakma and Reshmi Marma.

Kazi Arman, a leader of Bangladesh Students’ Federation; Prottoy Nafak, a leader of CU unit of Bangladesh Students’ Union; Dipa Majumder, a leader of Chattogram unit of Bangladesh Chattra Front and Ani Chowdhury of Democratic Students’ Council also spoke at the gathering, expressing solidarity with the movement of the Jumma people.

February 20, 2021
PCP holds student rally in Panchari
The Hill Students’ Council (PCP), an associate organsation of the UPDF, used the occasion of the International Mother Language Day to demand at a student rally in Panchari that the government imparts education up to primary level in the mother tongues of the national minorities and takes effective measures to train teachers to that end.

Held at Logang High School ground, with hundreds of students taking part, the rally was addressed by Nikel Chakma, Noresh Tripura, Syclone Chakma, Barun Chakma, Bipul Chakma and Doya Sona Chakma.

Atif Anik, a leader of Biplobi Chattra Jubo Andolon, also spoke at the rally, expressing solidarity with the PCP.

March 01, 2021
UPDF statement on Home Ministry announcement regarding replacement of army camps with police camps
The UPDF expressed indignation and serious reservations about the Home Ministry’s announcement regarding its decision to replace the army camps with police camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, terming it ‘a reminiscence of the voices of the military rulers of the 1980s and hence it is unacceptable.’

UPDF spokesperson, Aongay Marma, also said, ‘The decision is not only against the main spirit of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts accord, but is also tantamount to a flagrant betrayal of the trust of the hill people.’

He demanded that the government immediately cancel the unjust and anti-Jumma announcement of the ministry of the home affairs and disband the vigilante groups created and patronized by a vested interest group in the CHT.

March 07, 2021
Student and youth conference in Rangamati
A student and youth conference was held in Rangamati district under the auspices of the Naniachar and Langudu units of the United Peoples Democratic Front.

Presided over by Sukirti Chakma, chief organizer of UPDF Naniachar unit, the main slogan of the conference was ‘Students and youth: come forward and fight for our ancestral lands and dignity of our mothers and sisters.’

A nine-point demand was adopted at the conference, which included:

1. withdraw all false cases filed, and warrent of arrest issued, against UPDF members and supporters. 2. stop patronizing and political use of criminals (against UPDF). 3. stop terrorist activities including kidnappings by armed terrorists at Naniachar bazar. 4. ensure congenial atmosphere for the people to carry out activities at Naniachar bazar, 5. release all political prisoners including UPDF’s central leader Ananda Prakash Chakma, 6. stop the practice of re-arresting prisoners released on bail, 7. stop land grabbing by illegal settlers with government patronization. 8. punish Abdur Rahim, the head teacher of Korollyachari High School in Longudu, for committing rape, and 9. punish the settlers involved in the gang rape of the mentally challeged woman at Bolpia Adam in Khagrachari.

March 08, 2021
HWF observes International Women’s Day in Khagrachari
The HWF held a rally in Khagrachari to mark the International Women’s Day defying police obstruction. The day also marks the 33th founding anniversary of the HWF.

With a call ‘ to resist all forms of women repression’, and carrying placards with various slogans, over three hundred women took part in the rally and the march held at Swanirbhor, a suburb of Khagrachari town.

The rally was addressed, among others, by Doyasona Chakma, Anti Chakma and Rita Chakma.

March 17 – 22, 2021
UPDF organizes students and youth conferences in Laxmichari
With the main slogan ‘The youth who idle away their time in times of national adversity, cannot be called youth; come forward and join the struggle for full autonomy’, the conferences were held in Bormachari union and Laxmichari Sadar union.

Bidhur Chakma, coordinator of UPDF Laxmichari unit, presided over the both conferences, while Montu Chakma, Debesh Chakma, Shuvo Chak, Amit Chakma, Mithon Chakma and Pysuimong Marma also spoke.

Several hundred students and youths from the area participated in these two conferences.

30 – 31 March 2021
PCP’s 25th central council held
The council was held in Khagrachari with the slogan ‘Resist government conspiracy to harm unity, speed up full autonomy movement to free the CHT people from devilish oppression’.

A 23-member central committee was elected with Sunayan Chakma and Sunil Tripura as its president and general secretary respectively at the end of the conference.

April 5, 2021
DYF marks 19th founding anniversary
The Democratic Youth Forum marked its 19th founding anniversary with a call to cease fratricidal conflict and take the path of struggle. In Khagrachari a discussion was organized, where the leaders demanded a four-day official holiday for Boisabi festival and revoking of the decision to replace abandoned military camps with police camps.

April 9, 2021
Student-youth-woman conference against degradation of social values in Matiranga
Hundreds of students, youths and women participated in the conference with a clarion call to ‘serve the nation’ and say NO to intoxicants, gambling and Dabbo.

Toifang Tripura, an organizer of UPDF Matiranga unit, presided over the conference, while Tanimong Marma, Jhimit Chakma, Shuvo Chak, Niti Chgakma, Ronal Chakma, Shanta Chakma and Nanda Tripura spoke.

May 6, 2021
DYF helps farmer in harvesting paddy in Baghaichari
Activists of the Baghaichari branch of Democratic Youth Forum, led by its president Ratna Jyoti Chakma helped Ranjit Chakma, a poor farmer, to harvest his ripen paddy of three Kani (1.2 acres) by offering voluntary labour.

On 15 May, UPDF and DYF activists also helped another farmer, Monu Ranjan Chakma in Baibachara village, in harvesting his paddy. Argent Chakma and Kalo Baran Chakma led the voluntary work as the youths of the village also participated in it.

May 7, 2021
PCP Rangamati district branch council held
It was the 8th council and the main slogan was ‘Resist anti-national conspiracies to speed up full autonomy movement’.

A nineteen-member committee with Nikon Chakma and Tonumoy Chakma as its president and general secretary respectively was elected. Presided over by Nikon Chakma, the conference was addressed by Shanti Dev Chakma, Ziko Tripura, Neptune Chakma, Niti Chakma, Ankon Chakma, Shohel Chakma, Newton Chakma and Satej Chakma.

May 20, 2021
PCP holds student rally to mark its 32th founding anniversary
With the slogan ‘Speed up full autonomy movement imbued with the spirit of the people-student upsurge of 1989′, the Hill Students’ Council held its 32th founding anniversary in Khagrachari. Presided over by Samar Chakma, president of PCP Khagrachari district branch, and moderated by Noresh Tripura, its general secretary, the conference was addressed by Aongay Marma, Amal Tripura, Niti Chakma and Liton Chakma.

May 20 – 23 2021
UPDF gives food assistance to 1,577 families in Ramgarh, Matiranga, Guimara
The local units of UPDF provided food assistance to poor and needy families in Manikchari, Ramgarh, Matianga and Guimara Upazilas of Khagrachari district to help them coup with Covid 19 impacts.

UPDF provided food assistance to about 500 families in Manikchari Upazila On 20 May, to 577 families on 21 May and to 500 families in Matiranga and Guirama Upazilas on 23 May. Each family received 10 kgs of husked rice, distributed from several spots.

11-12 June 2021
HWF marks 25 years since abduction of Kalpana Chakma
The Hill Women’s Federation marked 25 years since the abduction of Kalpana Chakma by army and Village Defence Party in Baghaichari of Rangmati district in 1996.

To mark the day, HWF organized a webiner and a discussion in Khagrachari.

13-15 June 2021
Protests against land grabbing in Pokkimuro
Mass protests were held in various places including Guimara against land grabbing and destruction of Jumma houses in Pokkimuro under Sinkukchari Union of Guimara Upazila.

The protesters demanded an end to land grabbing and restoration of the stolen lands to the rightful owners.

June 14, 2021
Food assistance to poor villagers in Laxmichari
The local unit of the UPDF provided food assistance to 65 destitute families in Laxmichari, each receiving 10 Kgs of husked rice.

UPDF organizers Montu Chakma and Nirob Chakma were present at the event.

June 16, 2021
PCP and DYF blocks roads and waterways in Baghaichari
The half-day blockage of roads and waterways was enforced by Hill Students’ Council and Democratic Youth Forum to protest the arrest of Rupayon Chakma, president of PCP Sajek Thana branch.

Rupayon was arrested by army on 15 June from a protest meeting at Mazalong Bazar.

In addition to the blockage programme, the two organizations also staged demonstrations in different places in protest against his arrest.

June 19, 2021
Food assistance to poor people in Bormachari
UPDF provided food assistance to 200 destitute families in Bormachari Union under Laxmichari Upazila, each family receiving 20 kgs of husked rice.

UPDF leaders Sorol Chakma and Sunil Chakma distributed the succour in the presence of the village elders of the area.

June 27 – 30, 2021
Protests on anniversary of fifteenth constitutional amendment
The UPDF and its associate organizations staged demonstrations and organized discussions in several spots of Rangamati and Khagrachari districts. They demanded the repealing of the controversial 15th amendment to the constitution and the constitutional recognition of the ethnic nationalities of the country.

July 1 – 3, 2021
Protests at burning down of jum house in Sindukchari
Khagrachari units of the PCP, DYF and HWF held protest marches at several places in Khagrachari district.

The protesters condemned the burning down of a jum house belonging to Nanajoy Tripura by army in Sindukchari Union of Guimara Upazila.

In one of the protest demonstrations Liton Chakma, office secretary of DYF Khagrachari District branch and Noresh Tripura, organising secretary of PCP Khagrachari district branch, urged the government to stop conspiracies to wipe out the Jumma people from Sindukchari area.

July 5, 2021
Protest in Kudukchari against rape of a Marma girl
It was a gang rape committed by Bengali settlers at Khagrachari bus terminal. The Rangamati district branches of the Hill Students’ Council, Democratic Youth Forum and Hill Women’s Federation organized the protest at Kudukchari.

Ziko Tripura, Priyoton Chakma, Niki Chakma and Nikon Chakma, while addressing at the protest meeting, decried the inaction of the law enforcement agencies and demanded punishment for those guilty of the heinous crime.

July 16 – 18, 2021
Protest against grabbing of Vihara land in Langudu
The land illegally occupied by Bengali settlers belongs to Aryo Giri Bana Vihara in Atarakchara area under Langudu Upazila of Rangamati district. Protests were held in several places in Rangamati and Khagrachari districts in which demands were made for reversing of the illegal occupation of the Vihara land.

August 5 – 8, 2001
Protests against arrest and shooting at DYF activists in Panchari
The army fired indiscrimiantely at leaders and activists of Democratic Youth Forum and arrested one of them, Kalyan Jyoti Chakma. Protests were held in several places in Khagrachari district against this incident. The protesters condemned the incident and demanded unconditional release of the DYF leader.

August18, 2021
Commemoration for victims of Swanirbhor massacre
The programme was held in several places in Khagrachari and Rangamati districts. It was the third anniversary of the Swanirbhor massacre perpetrated by military backed vigilantes on 18 Augst 2018 in broad daylight and in the presence of police and members of Border Guard Bangladesh.

In Khagrachari UPDF and its front organizations placed wreaths at a makeshift monument build for the victims of the massacre.

Earlier on 17 August, in comemmoration of the victims, their family members and the local people had performed religious services including candle lighting. They held a banner which read ‘We demand arrest of, and punishment for, those involved in the killing and their patronizers.’

September 8, 2021
UPDF helps build a dam to create a lake
The dam was constructed in Babuchara Union under Dighinala Upazila and the UPDF activists provided volunrary labour to help build it. The lake thus created will be used for fish farming. The villagers thanked UPDF for the assistance.

September 17, 2021
PCP hold student rally in Khagrachari
The rally was organized by Khagrachari distrcit unit of the PCP on the occasion of the National Education Day, with the theme ‘Education is not privilege, it’s a fundamenta right: none should be deprived of this right’.

Presided over by Samar Chakma, president of PCP Khagrachari district unit, and moderated by Shanta Chakma, the rally was addressed by Bipul Chakma, a former president of PCP, Sunil Tripura, general secretary of PCP and Anti Chakma, convenor of Hill Women’s Federation Khagrachari district unit.

October 8, 9, 2021
Protest against land grabbing in Maischari
The Hill Students’ Council held rallies and demonstrations in Khagrachari and Chittagong to protest land grabbing by Bengali settlers in Maischari under Mahalchari Upazila.

The protesters demanded that the government take stern actions to stop encroachment on Jumma people’s lands in the CHT.

October 21 – 29, 2021
Protests against attack on Hindu communiy
UPDF staged marches and rallies in several places in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and in Chittagong in protest against communal attacks on Hindu communities in the country inlcuding Kumilla, Noakhali and Pirgang.

In Khagrachari the protesters condemned the attacks on Hindus and demanded legal actions against the perpetrators.

October 29, 2021
PCP marks ‘Day of Resistance to Evil Forces’
The PCP observes the day on 30 October. On this day in 1993 the police attacked a peaceful rally in Khagrachari without slightest provocation, leaving several student leaders and girl students severely injured. Many of them were also arrested, but after resistance through non-violent means the local administration had to release them.

To mark the day the PCP Khagrachari unit held a discussion and organized a photo exhibition, showcasing rare photographs about different events in it’s checkered history.

November 3, 2021
Joint council of PCP, DYF and HWF in Laxmichari
Rupanta Chakma, Pranjol Chakma and Niron Chakma were elected as president, general secretary and organizing secretary respectively of the new committee of the PCP Laxmichar unit.

Paichi Marma, Mithun Chakma and Shubhodhan Chakma were elected as president, GS and organizing secretary respectively of the DYF Laxmichari unit.

The council also elected Joyonti Chakma and Suimaraching Marma as convenor and member secretary of the Hill Women’s Federation Laxmichari unit.

The theme of the council was ‘full autonomy is the only solution to the Chittagong Hill Tracts’.

November 17, 2021
UPDF affiliates mark Naniachar Massacre Day
The Naniachar units of the Hill Students Council, Democratic Youth Forum, Hill Women’s Federation and CHT Nari Sangha jointly organized a discussion meeting and a candle light vigil in comemmoration of those killed in Naniachar massacre 28 years ago.

The participants also placed floral wreaths at the makeshift monument built for the victims of the massacre.

The speakers demanded justice for the massacre of the innocent Jummas and an end to repression of the national minorities in the CHT

November 21, 2021
UPDF assist farmers in harvesing
Members and supporters of the party took part in a programme to help farmers with voluntary labour to cut their ripen paddy in many areas of Guimara and Matiranga Upazilas.

Tanimong Marma, a local UPDF leader, led a team of 18 participants in Sainguli-para of Guimara Upazila, while in Matiranga 50 UPDF members and supporters, led by Toiphang Tripura, Jiten and Nirmal, volunteered to assist the farmers in Auvya, Dholdholi and Dhamaipara.

December 10, 2021
UPDF distributes winter clothes in Sajek and Baghaichari
Local units of the party distributed winter clothes to the poor and destitutes in Sajek and Baghaichari in Rangamati district.

Urgent Chakma, a local organizer of UPDF Sajek unit, presided over the distribution ceremony in Sajek Union, while Jibon Chakma, a karbari (village head) and Antalila Chakma, a village elder, spoke.

Similar programme was also held in Gangaram and Baghaichari Upazila headquarters, where local village elders were also present.

December 17, 2021
UPDF distributes winter clothes to poor people in Dighinala
The Dighinala unit of the party distributed blankets to the poor and destitute families with a call to the affluent classes to ‘come forward to help the helpless’.

Over 300 families from several villages under Kobakhali Union No. 3, Dighinala Union No. 4 and Babuchara Union No. 5 received the warm clothes.

December 26, 2021
UPDF’s 23rd founding anniversary observed
The day was observed with much enthusiasm and revolutionary zeal and fanfare throughout the CHT. Every unit of the party undertook various programmes to mark the day. This year’s main theme of the founding anniversary was ‘Come forward to build up a united movement to save our national existence.’