Military Torture in Machalong

Soldiers led by Mojib, Second-in-command of Baghaichari Army Zone in Rangamati district, carried out a so-called search operation in Machalong bazaar on 26 November 2005.

The army men gathered all the market people at the precinct of the police camp, searched their bodies and subjected them to interrogation. Not even the women were spared. Three Bengali traders were also beaten up. They have been identified as Md. Kashem (40) s/o late Jebol Hossain of village T & T Tilla, Baghaichari and his son Abu Bakkar (15) and Idrish Mian (35) s/o late Abdul Malek of village Kobakhali, Dighinala.

A few months earlier, the army from 20th Bengal who were in charge of Baghaichari Zone before the incumbent 33 Bengal to which Mojib belong, rounded up seven persons including two UPDF members after raiding six villages in Machalong. Later the arrested Jummas were handed over to the police and a case was filed against all of them under the dreaded Arms Act although no firearms were recovered from them during the raids.

It has been quite a routine affair for the army officers to arrest innocent people and then project them as terrorists in order to bolster their personal image as well as chances of getting promoted.

The local people believe the 33th Bengal is conspiring to employ the same mischievous policies that involve suffering and sacrificing of innocent people.

Prepared by Press Section, Publications and Publicity Department, United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), January 06, 2006, Dhaka.