Reporter from Barmachhari, CHT News
Sunday, 31 August 2025
On Friday, 29 August 2025, at around 9 a.m., a patrol team of 10 army personnel led by Havildar Enamul Islam from the Khiram Army Camp, under the Laxmichhari Zone of Khagrachari, conducted a patrol up to Dolupara area in Fatikchari Union of Kaukhali Upazila, Rangamati district.
Locals said that Havildar Enamul is somewhat eccentric in nature. During the patrol, he took photos of whoever he saw on the road or in shops. He questioned various people, asking, “Is there extortion here? Do terrorists come here?”
At one point, he approached Nishi Chakma, a village police member sitting at a shop in Fatikchari Union, and asked, “Is there illegal business going on here? Are alcohol or ganja (hemp) produced here?”
Annoyed by such questioning, Nishi Chakma responded firmly, saying, “There are no terrorists here. No extortion takes place. No illegal activities happen. Personnel from your Khiram and Shuknachari camps frequently come and patrol this area. Never have they found anything illegal. If you have any proof, then take legal action accordingly.”
The army personnel later left the area but observed various locations on their way back to the camp.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Commander Atik of Khiram Camp summoned some local timber traders and elderly community members to the camp. A delegation of 8-9 people, including timber traders Md. Elias Saudagar, Shukkur Saudagar, and Ward Member Md. Ali of Ward 3 of Khiram Union, went to meet Commander Atik.
Commander Atik told the delegation: “If you agree to one condition, you can collect trees and bamboo 24 hours a day. But if you don’t comply or follow my condition, you won’t be allowed to take even a single tree or bamboo.”
His condition was: “You must hand over one person along with a firearm.”
The delegation was shocked and speechless upon hearing this. They strongly rejected the commander’s proposal with disgust, saying: “The trees and bamboos we trade are all legal. We don’t cut from government forests.”
It’s worth noting that under the ongoing military rule in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the name of “Operation Uttoron”, the army maintains control and surveillance over all aspects of life, including trade and commerce. Army officers, in their quest for promotions, are making innocent hill people scapegoats.
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