By TC News Desk
Agartala, 12th August 2024: Ranjit Debbarma, a legislator from the Tipra Motha Party, has reached out to the Interim Government of Bangladesh expressing grave concern over the reported persecution of religious minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In his letter, Debbarma highlighted the severe violence faced by Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, including assaults, murders, arson, looting, and attacks on women.
He described the current situation in Bangladesh as dire, with minority communities living in fear and lacking basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. The letter also mentioned the destruction of the historic 135-year-old “Bir Chandra Public Library” in Kandirpar, Comilla. Established by the late Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya of Tripura, the library was severely damaged, with its contents, including religious and historical books, photographs, and valuable ornaments, destroyed or stolen.
Debbarma’s letter detailed how many displaced minorities are currently stranded at the borders of Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, Mizoram, and West Bengal, hoping to seek refuge in India. He expressed the severe conditions they are enduring, including the risk of being caught in crossfire from the Border Security Force (BSF) while trying to escape violence in Bangladesh.
The MLA pointed out that violent incidents have been particularly severe in the districts of Khagracharri, Rangamati, and Bandarban within the Chittagong Hill Tracts, as well as in Habiganj and Maulavibazar districts. He urged the Bangladeshi government to prioritize providing adequate security to these vulnerable populations to prevent the spread of violence beyond its borders.
