Bangladesh, Rangamati | January 27, 2026: A jhum cultivation field belonging to an Indigenous farmer in Bilaichhari upazila of Rangamati district was allegedly burned during a military operation carried out in the area on Tuesday, January 27, according to local residents.

 

The affected cultivator has been identified as Sukhamoy Chakma, son of Doyal Chakma, from Gachhbagan Para. Residents said the field contained semi-prepared jhum crops intended for the current cultivation cycle, forming a key source of seasonal livelihood for the family.

 

Villagers alleged that the incident occurred amid ongoing activities by the Bangladesh Army in several Indigenous-inhabited areas of Bilaichhari. Locals claim the operations are linked to plans for establishing a tourism-related facility in the region.

 

Community members further stated that on January 24, two Indigenous homes under construction in the same locality were demolished using heavy machinery during a separate operation. According to residents, the demolitions were carried out despite objections from villagers who rely on jhum cultivation, homestead land, and surrounding forest areas for survival.

 

Residents from Thum Para, Dhulubagan, and Gachhbagan areas alleged that traditionally used jhum land, community forest zones, and settlement areas are being gradually taken over in the name of development and tourism. They argue that such actions threaten both Indigenous livelihoods and long-established land-use practices.

 

Rights observers say incidents like this highlight growing tensions between state-led development initiatives and Indigenous land rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region governed under a 1997 peace accord that recognizes traditional land use systems such as jhum cultivation, though its implementation remains contested.

 

Environmental activists have also warned that hill cutting and forest clearance in jhum zones can increase landslide risks and disrupt natural water sources, particularly during the monsoon season, compounding the vulnerability of hill communities.

 

Similar allegations involving jhum land and Indigenous settlements have been reported in other parts of Rangamati and Bandarban in recent years, raising broader concerns about development practices in the region.

 

As of publication, no official statement had been issued by military or local administrative authorities addressing the allegations or clarifying the purpose of the operation. The claims could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.