Map of Bangladesh with election symbols, reflecting campaigning and political competition ahead of the national polls, including in the Chittagong Hill Districts. Illustration: The Times of Jumland
Bangladesh will hold its national election on February 12. The main competitors in the election are two forces: the BNP and the Jamaat alliance. Election campaigning is now in full force. From news outlets to social media, election news dominates everywhere. In some plainland districts, there are reports of severe clashes and violent confrontations. At times, these clashes have even turned into gunfights. Many supporters, including candidates, have been injured.
The same election frenzy has reached the Chittagong Hill Tracts. However, here, in addition to the two main forces, the BNP and the Jamaat alliance, two regional hill-based parties have also joined the contest: PCJSS and UPDF.
PCJSS is the oldest political party in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Since Bangladesh’s independence, this party has been struggling for the political rights of the Indigenous people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. There are allegations that the party follows a pro-India line. The party has recognition both locally and internationally.
On the other hand, UPDF is a newer party that emerged in opposition to the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. Unlike PCJSS, this party does not have much recognition at either the local or international level.
In this election, there is not much conflict between these two regional parties in Bandarban. This is because the main contest in Bandarban is between the BNP and the Jamaat alliance. Reports suggest that PCJSS is supporting the BNP candidate there.
In Rangamati, among many candidates, campaigning and allegations are mainly being heard around two Indigenous candidates. One is BNP candidate Dipen Dewan, and the other is independent candidate Pahel Chakma. Here too, allegations have emerged that PCJSS is supporting BNP candidate Dipen Dewan.
On the other hand, independent candidate Pahel Chakma has brought allegations against PCJSS. He has said that PCJSS is preventing him and his younger brother from carrying out election campaigning. However, there have been no reports of any unpleasant or violent incidents during his campaign.
In Khagrachhari, the situation appears somewhat complicated. However, no clashes or unpleasant incidents have taken place there so far.
In this district, out of eleven candidates, three are considered the main players. They are BNP-backed Wadud Bhuiyan, BNP rebel candidate Samiran Dewan, and Jamaat alliance candidate Yakub Ali.
However, the support of the Indigenous regional parties is divided between two Indigenous candidates.
There are counter-allegations here as well. In this district, PCJSS has supported BNP rebel candidate Samiran Dewan, while UPDF has supported Dharmojyoti Chakma.
To understand why PCJSS is supporting BNP candidates in all three districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, The Times of Jumland, from Tokyo, contacted several PCJSS leaders directly by mobile phone. They agreed to speak on condition of anonymity for their own safety.
In response to the question of why BNP candidates are being supported in all three districts, PCJSS leaders said they are not supporting candidates based on party affiliation. They said they are supporting candidates based on personal qualities. They also said that the BNP candidates in all three districts belong to Indigenous communities, which is another reason for PCJSS’s support.
In response to the allegations made by Pahel Chakma in Rangamati that PCJSS activists were obstructing his campaign, a Rangamati representative said, “These are election tactics. If PCJSS were blocking him, Pahel Chakma would not be able to leave his home, because his village is also under PCJSS control.” He added, “We are giving support, but we are not preventing other candidates from campaigning.”
Regarding Khagrachhari, The Times of Jumland asked why PCJSS was not supporting the Independent candidate Dharmojyoti Chakma.
In response, a PCJSS activist from Khagrachhari said, “The situation here is different. The most logical consideration for PCJSS is which candidate can keep the district’s environment stable. Since the CHT Accord, this district has been the most affected by clashes between Indigenous communities and Bengali settlers. So PCJSS focuses on who can keep indigenous–Bengali tensions from turning into open conflict.”
He further added, “During Wadud’s time, many Indigenous–Bengali clashes occurred. If he is elected again, it cannot be said that such incidents will not happen again. That is why PCJSS has taken the matter into its own hands early. Dharmojyoti Chakma cannot do that. Moreover, Dharmojyoti does not have the capacity to defeat Wadud in the electoral contest. Considering all factors, supporting Samiran Dewan is the only option.”
Several local journalists and political observers in the hill districts told The Times of Jumland that allegations of pressure and intimidation during election periods are not new in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. They said similar situations have appeared in past elections as well, often without formal complaints or visible evidence.
In the current election, concerns have resurfaced through accusations exchanged between candidates and parties, particularly in Rangamati and Khagrachhari. Local sources said the absence of open violence so far does not necessarily mean the absence of pressure in remote hill areas, where reporting remains difficult due to security concerns.
In this year’s election in Bangladesh, the BNP and the Jamaat alliance appear to be running almost neck and neck. However, many believe that the country has already experienced BNP rule, during which Bangladesh became known as a champion of corruption. Based on that experience, some expect that Jamaat could come to power this time.
However, experts have expressed the view that Jamaat is far more anti-India than the BNP.
