Indigenous communities in the remote Sajek region of Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have accused the military and forest authorities of impeding the construction of the area’s first higher education institution — a locally led initiative they describe as a pivotal effort to overcome decades of structural marginalisation and educational exclusion.
Construction of the proposed Sajek College, initiated by residents of Uzo Bazar in Sajek Union, Rangamati district, came to a halt last month after local officials claimed the building site was part of protected forest land.
The Forest Department, citing the colonial-era Forest Act of 1927, issued an order suspending all work on the grounds that no permission had been obtained.
Local indigenous communities say the move reflects entrenched discrimination in the Hill Tracts, where a heavy military presence and top-down development often ignore their voices.
“This land has been used by our people for generations. Suddenly it becomes ‘reserved forest’ only when we try to build a college?” said Atulal Chakma, chairman of the Sajek Union Parishad, who has overseen the project.
“We have seen religious and military establishments built in the same forest land without objection. But when we prioritise education, we are told it’s illegal.”
The project had made considerable progress through community support, with many residents contributing labour, wood, and cash.
With no college in Sajek Union, students must travel up to 70 kilometres through hilly terrain to attend higher secondary classes.
Locals say the long distances, coupled with poverty, force most students to drop out after completing their secondary school exams.
“We lose bright students every year. Some get married early, some migrate for labour. This college was a chance to stop that cycle,” said Suman Chakma, a teacher at Shishughar School and College in Mahalachhari.
The land dispute escalated in mid-June when Shirin Akhter, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), issued a suspension order and instructed the Forest Department to post legal warning signs at the site.
One such notice reads: “This is government-reserved forest. Construction without permission is punishable by law. Cease all activities.”
Mohammad Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Rangamati, confirmed the action, saying:
“The site falls within forest land. No formal approval was sought from the Forest Department to build any structure. As such, we have instructed that all work be stopped.”
Local accounts, however, suggest the military may have played a more aggressive role.
Several community members alleged that Major Masud Rana, commander of the Baghaihat Army Zone, threatened villagers who were involved in the construction.
“The Major warned us not to continue. He said if we kept building, we’d face consequences,” said Porichoy Chakma, a member of the Union Parishad.
“His words were clear — this wasn’t just a civil order. It was an act of intimidation.”
This news portal made repeated attempts to contact Major Masud Rana for comment, but he could not be reached.
The allegations have reignited longstanding tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region home to eleven indigenous communities, including the Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Mro, Tanchangya, Bawm, Khumi, Chak, Khiang, Lushai, and Pangkhua.
While the 1997 Peace Accord between the government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) promised demilitarisation and indigenous rights, critics argue that tangible progress remains elusive on the ground.
Villagers pointed to other recent construction projects, including a large mosque built on forest land in 2022, allegedly with support from the army, as evidence of double standards.
“The government talks about development, about Digital Bangladesh. But if indigenous people take the initiative to educate their children, they are criminalised,” said Atulal Chakma. “Is education a threat to national security?”
The college was originally intended to offer classes for Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) students, with plans to affiliate it under the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Chattogram.
With construction halted, students like Laxmi Dewan, 17, are left in limbo.
“I was going to apply. I want to study science and become a nurse,” she said. “But my parents can’t afford to send me to Khagrachhari town. This college was my only hope.”
Source : The Chittagong Hill Tracts
