Sajek Correspondent, CHT News
Friday, November 13, 2026
Bangladesh army intelligence officers have been accused of harassing indigenous civilians who traveled to Baghaihat Market in Sajek Union, Rangamati District, to buy daily necessities and medicine. Local residents have expressed anger and concern over the incident, demanding an immediate end to such harassment.
According to local sources, at around 9:45 a.m. on Friday,November 13, 2026, several villagers, including Lakkhinder Chakma, 55, son of the late Dhirendra Chakma, and Bibhushu Chakma, 38, son of Indrajay Chakma, both residents of Baibachhara village, went to Baghaihat Market to purchase essential goods and medicine.
During their visit, five members of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and Field Security (FS), assigned to the Baghaihat Army Zone, reportedly called them into Kashem Sowdagar’s tea stall, where they intimidated the villagers and subjected them to questioning.
Local sources said that after hearing about the incident, many other people who had gone to the market quickly purchased what they needed and left.
Witnesses identified the intelligence personnel involved as Mohammad Arju of DGFI and Mohammad Jasim, Mohammad Ishak, and Mohammad Riyad of the Zone’s Field Security unit. However, they could not identify another person accompanying the group.
Bibhushu Chakma, one of the alleged victims, told CHT News:
“I had been staying in Kattun for about a month and returned home yesterday afternoon. Today, I went to Baghaihat Market to buy some daily necessities. Suddenly, members of the Zone’s Field Security unit called me over and asked whether I had attended a meeting organized by the Sajek Public Rights Protection Committee in our village the day before yesterday, November 11. When I told them I had not attended the meeting, they scolded me and tried to intimidate me. They eventually let me go after failing to produce any evidence against me.”
Another alleged victim, Lakkhinder Chakma, said:
“I went to a pharmacy in the market to buy medicine because I was unwell. Members of the Zone’s Field Security unit called me over from the road and took me to Kashem Sowdagar’s tea stall. There, they threatened to beat me and questioned whether I had taken part in rallies or meetings in support of the blockade. They intimidated me in various ways and subjected me to mental harassment.”
Local sources also reported that the intelligence personnel did not stop at Baghaihat Market but later went to Ladumoni Market in Gangaram Dwopdha. There, they allegedly shouted “Terrorists! Catch them!” at ordinary passersby and people sitting at tea stalls before chasing them.
Local residents have expressed anger and concern over these incidents. They have urged the authorities to immediately stop intelligence personnel from harassing civilians at markets and along roads in Sajek. They have also called for the protection of people’s right to move freely, buy essential goods without interference, and go about their daily lives safely.
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