Sajek: Looking Back, Part Two

 

Sajek: Looking Back, Part Two

By Tandra Chakma Program Manager, Manusher Jonno Foundation Human Rights Activist Member: South Asians for Human Rights

It was February 18, 2010. I was in Rangamati on a vacation with my family. My daughter’s birthday was approaching. Since we were scheduled to leave on the 20th, we decided to celebrate it early on a large engine boat with some family members and her friends. Our initial plan was to take the boat to Kattali Bazar, where everyone could disembark during lunchtime to roam around and enjoy the beauty of the nearby village.

We started our river trip from Rajbari Ghat early that morning, equipped with cooked dishes, cakes, musical instruments, and playing materials for the children. Floating on Kaptai Lake was beautiful, but when we reached halfway, a friend informed us via cell phone that an incident and killing had occurred at Sajek, so we couldn't go to Kattali. After hearing this, we decided to divert to Kheppapara. Our fun had essentially ended. My daughter decided to celebrate her birthday inside the boat. She cut her cake and distributed it among her friends. After a half-hour journey, we reached Kheppapara. We were all sad, but for my daughter's sake, everyone decided to celebrate. Some of us sang a song for her and then ate lunch. After staying and walking around for a few hours, we started back for Rangamati and reached safely.

On February 21st, we arrived in Dhaka. As any other normal day, I went to the office on the 22nd. I was writing a report when suddenly a relative called me on my cell. She said, “Do you know I heard so many houses and shops belonging to Jummas are burning in Khagrachari?” I panicked after hearing this. I called my husband to check it out. He called me back after ten minutes. He confirmed, “What you heard was true.”

I called my relative again to tell her what I had learned. I logged in to Facebook and posted the news as a status update. I checked the internet news link https://www.google.com/search?q=bdnews24.com but couldn't find the news immediately. Many people asked me for updates in the comments, and I replied with what I knew. About an hour later, I saw the news on https://www.google.com/search?q=bdnews24.com. I remember posting the link on my Facebook wall. Many people responded, shocked to read the article.

In the evening, my husband contacted his relatives. They informed him that they had left home and sheltered in nearby safe places. The situation had not improved. The government had ordered Section 144 to control the law and order situation, but it wasn't working. Even under curfew, many new houses were burned in different parts of Khagrachari, such as Satviapara and some parts of the main town. Although the news showed army jeeps patrolling all over the Khagrachari district town, law and order did not improve. My question was: why this patrolling? If they could not protect the people of Satviapara or Khagrachari town, for whom was the security?

On February 23rd, someone on Facebook sent me an SOS message from Rangamati stating that Sama Odhikar Andolan was planning to start a similar arson attack and killing there. I informed our Executive Director, Shaheen Anam, and Raja Devashis Roy. Shaheen Apa was shocked to hear the news. She called The Daily Star team in Dhaka to visit the spot.

Following the incidents in Sajek and Khagrachari, like-minded Jummas met in Dhaka on February 24, 2010. The meeting was presided over by Rajababu. Before the meeting, he had met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and discussed the situation. He shared with us that the Prime Minister told him she was observing and taking care of it. Later, we decided that we, the citizens and friends of the CHT (Chittagong Hill Tracts), would arrange a black flag rally at the Central Shaheed Minar on February 26th. For this, we formed an organizing committee and a relief team.

It was Friday, February 26, 2010. We gathered at the Shaheed Minar. Almost all Jumma groups of Dhaka and many non-Jumma people—around 7,000 people—were assembled. A press note outlining our concerns was read out. Later, we all participated in a silent rally through the main roads of Dhaka. Most of the media covered it.

Subsequently, the relief team collected funds and decided to distribute them on March 7th. I accompanied the team to avoid any trouble. We arrived in Khagrachari early in the morning. After breakfast, some friends from Khagrachari arrived with a microbus. We started for Sajek, arriving at 10:30 AM. Here, I would like to thank all the local political groups who gathered all the Sajek victims at the Buddhist temple where I went to distribute relief. We distributed $\text{BDT }1500$ per family. By 1 PM, we had distributed aid to 200 families. I saw that the temple had been burnt to ashes. A statue of the Buddha lay on the ground. I felt disheartened. We did not see any trace of settlers during our relief distribution. The Ananda Bihar Committee and the Jumma Employee Union also distributed medicine, food, and clothing with us. After distributing relief in Sajek, we came back to Khagrachari and distributed relief and clothes for the victims of Satvaiyapara.

While distributing aid, we also asked the community members how the incident started. They said it began suddenly; a group of people (Bangali) wearing helmets came to their neighborhood and started setting fires by throwing petrol over the roofs and bamboo walls of their houses.