As the entire world observed the International Women’s Day on 8 March 2008, all hell wrecked upon a Chakma family in a remote village in Chiittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) region of Bangladesh.
Four-year old Ety Chakma was raped by one Mostafa Mian, an illegal Bengali settler of Betchari village in Dighinala Upazila in Khagrachari district, CHTs. According to the victim’s parents (father Zhimit Chakma and mother Joshi Chakma), the girl went to the nearby river to take a bath when the accused raped her at 1 pm. The Miyeeni River is half a Kilometer away from the victim’s house at Shanti Lakshmipur village in Madhyom Boalkhali under Dighinala Upazila. The minor girl was found by the villagers and taken to Dighinala hospital from where she was referred to Khagrachari District Hospital. Her condition is stated to be critical
The victim’s parents alleged the Officer-in-Charge of Dighinala police station under duress got their signature on a “blank paper”.
The local indigenous peoples NGOs fear the police will try to shield the accused, as they have always done earlier in similar situations. The Bengalis from the plains are settled in CHTs as part of State Policy to annihilate the identity of the indigenous “Jumma” peoples of CHTs. The illegal settlers have been provided free ration by the Bangladesh government and protection by the army.
CHTs is a heavily militarized zone. Due to the presence of the military and the illegal settlers, the indigenous peoples in particular the women are extremely vulnerable to gross human rights violations. The women are often victims of sexual abuse, like the case of Ety Chakma, who is only four years old.
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