Sajek Correspondent, CHT News
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Bangladesh Army personnel have been accused of continuing to harass and intimidate civilians in Sajek, Baghaichhari Upazila, Rangamati District. On Wednesday, November 11 and Thursday, November 12, soldiers reportedly surrounded and searched the homes of two villagers and subjected them to questioning and intimidation.
According to local sources, at around 10 p.m. Wednesday, approximately 60 to 70 soldiers from Baghaihat Army Zone arrived in the Balughat Bonani Bon Bihar area of Ward No. 4 in Sajek Union in two pickup trucks and a dump truck.
The soldiers surrounded the home of Dhan Chakma, 45, son of Nirati Mohan Chakma, a resident of Balughat village. They reportedly questioned and harassed him.
The soldiers then surrounded the home of another villager, Chuan Nya Chakma, 30, son of Nirmal Chakma, in the same village. They entered the house and searched the premises. After reportedly finding nothing illegal, the soldiers moved to the Bhitor Retkaba area, where they remained for about an hour before returning to Baghaihat Army Zone.
At around 11 a.m. Thursday, another group of soldiers from Baghaihat Army Zone arrived in two pickup trucks and returned to Dhan Chakma’s home.
The soldiers reportedly forced him out of the house and made him kneel in the courtyard. They then attempted to assault him, claiming he was Jiko Chakma, a leader of the Sajek People’s Rights Protection Committee. His wife intervened and told the soldiers that the man was her husband. The soldiers then refrained from beating him.
The soldiers allegedly verbally abused him and threatened him during the incident.
The reported incidents have caused fear and anxiety among local residents and fueled anger and resentment over the alleged harassment and intimidation of civilians by army personnel.
Residents have called on the government and relevant senior authorities to take immediate steps to end the harassment and intimidation of civilians in the area.
It is worth noting that on November 8, army personnel reportedly conducted two operations in the Bame and Dane Baibachhara areas of Sajek, one early in the morning and the other at night. During the operations, five villagers were allegedly beaten, several homes were searched, and mobile phones were seized from seven people. The incidents reportedly created widespread fear among local residents.
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