Bangladesh, Khagrachhari | March 17, 2026: Nearly three decades after the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord, questions about its implementation have moved beyond policy discussions. Now, these questions are increasingly being raised on the ground.

 

This concern has gained renewed urgency following reports of a military operation in the Tanikkapara area of Taindang Union under Matiranga Upazila, in Khagrachari Hill District.

 

According to Hill Voice and local sources, a joint force comprising the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and Ansar conducted an operation on March 16. At around 10:30 am, security forces reportedly deployed a drone for aerial surveillance. Shortly afterward, local accounts stated that mortar shells and gunfire were directed toward an area where supporters of the CHT Accord had been present.

 

The operation was reportedly led by Matiranga Army Zone Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md. Masud Khan and Zone Officer Md. Faruk. As of this report, there is no official statement on the operation’s objective. There is also no confirmed information on casualties.

 

In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, such developments are rarely viewed in isolation.

 

For many Indigenous communities, the CHT Accord represented a commitment to land rights, political recognition, and a different future after years of conflict. Decades later, many observers say key provisions of the Accord remain unimplemented.

 

Within this context, reports of drone surveillance followed by heavy firing in areas associated with pro-Accord groups have intensified existing concerns.

 

If those who support the Accord begin to feel vulnerable rather than protected, it raises fundamental questions about the Accord’s current relevance on the ground.

 

The absence of clear public explanation for such operations further complicates the situation, potentially weakening trust between authorities and local communities.

 

When trust begins to erode, the consequences are rarely immediate but rarely insignificant.

 

Residents in and around Tanikkapara describe fear and uncertainty after the incident. Beyond immediate reactions, deeper concerns are emerging. Many worry the gap between the promises of the CHT Accord and the lived reality in the hills continues to widen.

 

There is no confirmed escalation beyond this operation. However, in a region shaped by history, perception often carries as much weight as action.

 

In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the return of old questions is rarely accidental; it is often a signal that unresolved issues remain firmly in place.