C T Online Desk: UK-based int’l human rights organisation called for immediate release of the Bawm community civilians arrested in connection with bank robberies at two banks in Bandarban.
Three arrested members allegedly belonging to the KNF group.
Amnesty International on Wednesday urged the government to end an alleged crackdown on Bawm community, many members of which are engaged in separatist activities, as over 100 of the hill tract indigenous group have been detained since bank raids in Bandarban in April.
In a letter sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the UK-based international human rights organisation called for immediate release of the Bawm community civilians arrested in connection with bank robberies at two banks in Bandarban.
The Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), founded by Bawm community members in 2017, allegedly conducted the daring bank raids.
Due to KNF’s apparently deep ties with many Bawm people, the entire community is at serious risk of suffering collective punishment, Amnesty said.
The Bangladesh authorities seem to assume that the entire Bawm community is either part of or are supporters of the Kuki Chin National Front (KNF), the rights group alleged.
Over 11,000 people of the indigenous community are currently passing days in fear of arrests, starvation, and lack of access to education and employment, the letter to PM said.
Since 7 April, more than 100 Bawm people have been arbitrarily arrested from villages across the Chittagong Hill Tracts, days after the robberies allegedly by KNF personnel, Amnesty added in the letter.
