After the abduction, the vigilantes took him to the Guimara Army Brigade. Following the army’s instructions, he was later released.
Ramgarh Correspondent, CHT News
Monday, 1 September 2025
Basna Mohan Chakma (42), who was abducted on his way back from a rally in Ramgarh, Khagrachari, was released after several hours of torture and harassment by military-backed vigilantes.
According to reports, around 11:45 AM today (Monday, 1 September 2025), vigilantes abducted him from Nakaba Bazar after forcing him off a vehicle returning from the rally. He was released at approximately 4:30 PM.
Basna Mohan Chakma is a resident of Guja Para, Ward 2 of Joggochola Union in Manikchari Upazila. His father’s name is Barpeda Chakma.
After his abduction, the armed kidnappers threatened to kill him with guns and knives and physically assaulted him while taking him away on a motorcycle.
They then handed him over to the Guimara Army Brigade, where the army interrogated him. After failing to find any charges against him, the army instructed the vigilantes to release him.
After his release, Basna Mohan described the incident:
“While returning from the rally in Ramgarh, a group of four Bengali men, one Chakma youth, and one Marma youth approached us at Nakaba Bazar and told me to get off the vehicle and ride with them on a motorcycle. I refused to get off, but they forcibly dragged me down. I resisted and escaped to another vehicle, shouting for help. But the vigilantes came again, pointed guns at me, and dragged me out of that vehicle too.
“I was afraid they might shoot me, so I stopped resisting. They then took me away on their motorcycle. A Bengali man was driving while the Chakma youth sat behind. Along the way, they stopped multiple times to question me and ask for my address. The Bengali man threatened to kill me with a knife, saying, ‘Nothing will happen if I kill you.’ He also had a gun. However, the Chakma youth told him not to harm me.
“Eventually, I recognized the area after crossing a stream. There, someone I knew saw me and expressed concern. The vigilantes made me sit at a shop and gave me a soft drink and biscuits.
“Later, two more motorcycles arrived, driven by two Bengali men. The Chakma youth stayed behind and told me, ‘Go with them; they will release you.’
“The Bengali men then took me to the Guimara Army Brigade. There, the army asked why and from where I had been brought. I told them, ‘I went to the Ramgarh rally because I was invited by UPDF people. On the way back, I was abducted at gunpoint.’
“The army asked me how many UPDF members were there. I said I didn’t know and that I had only gone because I was called. Then the army said, ‘We work for the people. We don’t harm ordinary civilians. Just stop doing the things you’re doing.’
“I told them, ‘I’m not part of any political group. If I were, would I be dressed like this? I’m just a common person. They brought me here for no reason.’
“The army then asked if I had been fed. I said no. When they offered to get me food, I refused, saying I wasn’t feeling well and had been beaten. I told them I was beaten at the place where I was abducted. They replied, ‘That’s their business. We don’t harm civilians.’
“The army recorded a video of me. They asked whether the army had beaten me, and I said no.
“After that, the army instructed the vigilantes to release me.
“The vigilantes then took me to their office in Guimara Bazar. There, they took contact numbers of village elders and leaders from my phone. Then they handed me over to the elders who had come looking for me, and I returned home.”
Basna Mohan added that he was tied up when first taken but the bindings were removed midway at a roadside shop. He was not tied while being taken to the brigade. He also said he was beaten at least 10–20 times at various points along the way.
When asked whether he recognized the abductors, he replied:
“I don’t know all of them. But the Bengali man who beat me is named Bappi. He used to be a lackey of Awami League’s Maizuddin. He had a knife and a gun. I believe he lives in Goru Bazar of Manikchari Sadar.”
It is noteworthy that earlier on Monday (1 September), the Hill Students Council (PCP) and Democratic Youth Forum (DYF) organized a protest rally in Joutha Khamar, Ramgarh, against repression during military operations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Basna Mohan Chakma had participated in this rally.
On their way back, the vehicles carrying participants were attacked by military-backed vigilantes at Nakaba Bazar, and Basna Mohan Chakma was abducted.
According to Basna Mohan, the vigilantes said their original target was to kill or abduct two members of UPDF-affiliated organizations. Due to the scuffle with him, they missed their target. However, they also attempted to attack Dhanou Tripura, President of DYF Ramgarh Upazila branch, but he managed to escape unharmed.
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