About 3000 Bawm ( also known as Bom) villagers from CHT areas in Bangladesh are trying to enter India. The Bawm community—a Kuki ethnic group belonging to broader Zo community- from as many as nine villages reportedly left their homes across multiple upazilas in Bandarban and Rangamati districts . These villages now stand deserted as residents fled for India in the wake of armed conflicts between Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) and Bangladesh security forces. The KNF led by Nathan Bawm is a separatist organization fighting for ‘Kuki-Chinland” adjoining India and Myanmar.
The nine villages they left have been identified as Paikhyang Para in Rowangchhari’s Sadar Union; Olandajan Para in Alekyong Union; Jurpi Para in Paindu Union of Ruma; Choikhyang Para, Loang Mual Para, Thindle Para, Slopy Para, and Paingkhyang Para in Remakre Union; and Saizam Para in Belaichari Upazila bordering Bandarban.
In all possibilities they will try to enter Mizoram where they would find the ethnic Zo brothers.
It may be mentioned here that earlier also Bawm villagers took shelter in Mizoram following army crackdown. According to several NGO and research group reports ‘during the first round of crackdown from October 2022 till May 2023, around 2,000 to 3,000 Bawm fled to India and Myanmar following the military raids. Since the operation in April 2024 began. The actual number of Bawm refugees currently taking shelter in India is likely much higher’.
There were also reports from various organizations that ‘besides the mass arrest of civilians, since 7 April 2024, at least 10 civilians have been killed by the military, with victims as young as 13 years old. There have also been several allegations, confirmed by interviewees, of extrajudicial killings by security forces’.
Interestingly, while KNF used to get Bangladesh army’s support as a counter balance to CHT’s jumma community organization PCJSS, it also trained Islamic Jihadi terrorists. At present also they are reported to have been training 2000 Jamat activists in terror tactics at Ruma Roangcherri, Thanchi, Ali Kadam and Nakshyangcherri in lieu of Bangladeshi taka 300 crore.
However, of late—in fact, after two Bank robberies by the KNF at Ruma and Thanchi there have been conflicts between the Bangladeshi security forces and KNF militants which has also resulted in Bangladesh army’s offensives against the Bawm civilians forcing them to leave their villages for India.
A religious leader of the Bawm community Reverend Paksim Bawm speaking at a peace rally in Bandarban yesterday said, 3000 Bawm tribesmen deserted nine villages in Bandarban and Rangamati districts and they had fled to Mizoram in search of safety.
The peace rally was organized by the Bandarban District Council, drew hundreds of participants, including leaders from the Bawm Social Council, Mro Student Social Council, and prominent human rights activists. The march began at Raja’s field and culminated at the Bandarban Press Club..jpg)
In the meantime, there has been another development. While many Bawm individuals sought refuge in Mizoram, the journey has not been without peril. Rev. Paksim alleged that some refugees were detained by the Arakan Army in Myanmar, further exacerbating their plight.
Speakers in the rally emphasized the urgent need for government intervention and collective efforts to restore normalcy. “The government must prioritize the safety and rehabilitation of displaced communities,” said a representative of the Mro Student Social Council.
All Pic Courtesy : IWGIA
The refugee movements seen here is from previous attempts of the Bawm tribesmen to enter India (Mizoram) following Bangldesh military crackdown in Oct 2023-May 2024.
