The Bawm community living in Rowangchhari Upazila of the district has called upon the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) to stop activities of the illegal armed terrorist organisation and return to normal life after giving back the 14 looted weapons of the government.
They made the call on Monday at a protest rally and human chain programme arranged under the banner of Rowangchhari General Bawm community of all levels. Over 200 men and women of the community took part in the programme at Rowangchhari Market at 10:00am.
The speakers at the programme said they strongly condemned the attack on the army in Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban, the KNF bank robbery in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas, looting of government weapons, kidnapping and extortion. At the same time, they called on the KNF members to return to normal life by giving back the 14 looted arms of the police and Ansar members.
Rowangchhari Upazila Awami League Vice-president Neitaw Puiting Bawm said the operation of the joint forces in the hilly district of Bandarban is continuing. The KNF has been carrying out various terrorist activities, including bank robberies, looting of government arms, kidnapping, extortion and attacks on the army. The government is conducting a joint force operation to protect the lives and property of the common citizens and prevent terrorism. “We welcome this initiative of the security forces.”
Zenat Bawm, a student of Bandarban Government College, said due to the increasing number of terrorist activities by KNF, normal life is being disrupted in the area. “Common people especially mothers and sisters of the community, old people and common students do not want to be victimised for the unethical activities of KNF. Today most of the villages of the Bawm community are deserted. Hundreds of people are migrating. Normal household work, socio-social, livelihood activities are being disrupted,” she said.
She said the common people in the area are living an inhuman life. KNF will have to take responsibility for all these things. The main source of income for the Bawm community is fruit orchards and jhum cultivation. Hundreds of families make a living by fruit orchards. Traders are unable to come to Bawm Para during this season of selling fruits and vegetables due to unstable situation in the area due to KNF terrorist activities. Hundreds of acres of mango, pineapple and other fruit orchards are being destroyed, she said.
On April 2 and 3, Sonali and Krishi banks were robbed, bank managers were kidnapped, money was looted and 14 weapons were stolen from police-Ansar members in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas. The bank manager was rescued but the looted weapons and money were not recovered even after two months. The law and order forces said that the armed organisation KNF had carried out the incident.
Army, BGB, RAB, Police and Ansar members are participating in the operation to arrest terrorists and recover weapons and money. The army is coordinating the operation.
