The shocking story of the highest killings ever wrote in CHT history-Bhusanchara genocide

Year 1984, From first light of 31 May to 8:30 at morning at
Bhusanchara of Borkol in Rangamati. CHT people experienced a brutal massacre by
Shanti Bahini, military wing of Jono-Sanghati Samiti (JSS). A terribly shocking
history of the highest killing in Chittagong Hill Tracks (CHT) had written by
Bengali’s blood.

 

 400 Bengalis were killed within hours that day. Thousands
were wounded by those demons (Shanti Bahini) when they attacked to
Bengali-majority area, Borkol. In 1971, Pakistani solders were not that much
malicious either that Shanti Bahini was on Bengalis.

 A report published on the contemporary dates describing the
picture of the massacre by Ali Murtaza, is, “The beheaded body of a young woman
Rizia Khatun was found lying at proabari para of Bhushanchara settlement with
her dead body in the position of suckling her bosom. Both hands of yet another
baby were found severed. Yet another infant was see cut by half. A seven day
old boy was bayoneted to death in front of his parents.” 1

 Moinuddin Nasser described the scenario in his article, “A
group of about 150 members of the shanti Bahinin headed by one Major Moni
Shawpan Dewan , Launched the attack on the BDR camp and Bangali Settlers at the
Bhusnanchara union of Barkal upojela in the early hours of May 31.

 The insurgents, including their female cadres, in two groups
launched the armed attack at 4 a. m. which continued till 8.30 a. m. They
abruptly opened fire and killed the youth, women, children, elderly people and
even the livestock. From three rehabilitation zones at Bhusnachra union under
Barkal uppojela about 186 dead bodies of men, women, youths and babies were
recovered till the writing of this report. It is learnt that a large number of
corpses which could not be recovered were getting decomposed in the area. It is
recorded that a total of about 500 people including BDR personnel, were injured
in the raid, According to a reliable source, several BDR personnel were also
killed.” 2

But the horrifying picture can be visualized if someone read
Atiqur Rahman’s in-depth research report. He described, ‘…. A death silence
surrounded Kala Banna, Graveyard, Bhusanchara Harina to Thakamukh Border.  Neither dog or fox nor a single live was
there to make noise. Army, BDR, VDP were locked down at their camp. First sound
of gun shot came from the east side. The genocide had started with full flame.
Residences were torched around the area. Yelling, weeping, and screaming, ‍a
sound of torched residence with echo of gun shot and cheer of demons made the
area inferno. And in this way, a long night came to the earth. And these God
forsaken people waked up with all these screaming, yelling and death when sun
rose. These wretched people made heartbreaking circumstances around the area.
Dead bodies were everywhere. Countless dead bodies and these much blood within
only four hours is no doubt but genocide. An unthinkable cruelty had made that
night. Local BDR and Army informed about the genocide to the higher authority
by their wireless. The showoff was started within very short time. High
officials visited the area. And finally the moment to hide those dead bodies
came. Burying the bodies very fast were one of the ways to hide this killing by
Shanti Bahini. The inhumanity level of this killing and the real face of Shanti
Bahini were completely ignored by those ‘high officials’. At the same way of
thinking, media was an embargo to published the news because of the national
level clamor and botheration. Only reason that not to publish this news in
newspaper and other media was a probability to kick out and boycott tribal by
rest of population.

This massive killing and the government’s torpor made the
living victim panic that they left the area immediately. Even though government
took initiatives not to let them leave the area and continued their searching
and arresting on the way to launch, boat, road; it failed to stop leaving area.
However, the unluckiest were unable to leave the area. They were 50 per cent of
total population alive. And again, burial had started by those unlucky. There
was no food, nowhere to sleep at night, just dead bodies and its rotted smell
surrounded them. And nothing left to do but burial the bodies. However
authority was clemencies on them and compensation to them. This is clemency,
isn’t it?”3

Neither a single survival nor a pet was found at Borkol,
Bhusanchara and Prittichara that day. A picture published in Nasser’s Article
where a pet (dog) was stand on the smashed / fully burnt house. The caption of
the picture was ‘Bhushanchara: Only the dog was left alive’.2

The number of death is yet not revealed to all. Yet has now
record of missing and the condition of those missing unfortunates. Moreover,
relatives and neighbors of the people who left the area is yet not reckoning
correctly. However, we can come to an end about the number of death of that
night from several newspaper collection and articles by mentioned references.
And the number is terribly shocking to know.

186 dead bodied were found while Nasser has finished his
report. However, Nasser doubted, death-toll was not less than 400. He showed
his justification, out of 1600 family, 300 were faced the sufferings who were
at Borkal at the time. And 100 families were completely vanished after the
massacre.2 

From the in-depth research report of Atiqur Rahman on
Bhusanchara Massacre alos supported the estimated number of death. After long
investigative research, Atiq listed down the name including their address of
death-tolls. The number was 370 which is actually support Nasser’s estimation
of death-tolls.3

Murtaza feared that the death-toll would have exceeded the
estimated number and the dead-bodies found from several places near the spot.
He rationalized his concern, “…. During my visit prittisara river even after
five days of the incident, I found five bodies on the bank. The settlers told
me that several other bodies still in the forest around that area.”1

A description about ‘Mr. Jekyll’ who actually planed the
whole event came from Moinuddin Nasser report, i.e., “Major Moni Shawpan Dewan
of the Priti group who was supposed to be the leader of the insurgents in this
attack was student of Rangamati Govt. High school. After liberation he went to
continue his studies at Luthiana University of India/ Securing a Scholarship
from the India Government, but he joined the Shanti Bahini without completing
studies.”2

It was very unfortunate but true that the victims of
Bhusanchara were only the Bengali community/ families. And the most depressing
thing was, this massacre was gulped not only by the international media but
also local and national media. Due to/ Because of Marshal Law, there was an
embargo to publish such news in local newspapers. And to take the advantage of
the embargo, Tribal were made a huge publicity for them and spread bushfire
against Bengali communities internationally and made them to believe that only
tribal are tortured in hill. This is how, not government lost its fame but also
goodwill of Bangladesh Army was distorted. 

CHT Bengali are tortured and murdered by Tribal and at the
same time they are focused as perpetrator by Tribal propaganda. The most
distressing thing is, Bangladesh government was sit idle in this situation
which cannot tolerable for a long run. Hence, government needs to take an
attempt to arrest and punish Major Moni Swapan for this massacre. All genocide
occurred in CHT including Bhusanchara come to a good end by punishing those
‘Mr. Jykell’ and openthe truth to the light. By this way, Government can
redemption Bangladesh Army kindness to all. 

Moreover, it should be mentioned, by the ‘so called’ Peace
Accord in 1997 can never make peace in CHT though government announced general
amnesty for those tribal killers. Murder of Bengali cannot be stopped yet.
Although Shanti Bahini is not enlisted organization in Hills, it continues
killings and other terrorist activities at hills.  Still they are on their track, i.e. killing
Bengali and Tribal also. 

Crime tribunal, around the world is now established. United
Nation also has a law body to punish/ for tribunal. American solder did not get
mercy for torturing to Iraqi prisoners. Bangladesh also has an International
Crime tribunal to punish perpetrator. Then, why do not those who made genocide
in CHT. Is not Bhusanchara killing an inhuman crime?

There should not be any barrier to punish criminal neither
Bengali nor Tribal. And finally there is no option to forgive these killers if
government devotedly wants peace in CHT. Criminal must have to be punished for
their crime. If government considers these crimes, outlaws will take it as
government weakness and they will be involved in crime much more than before.

To finished the story by quoting Atiqur Rahman , ‘ … if we
let this genocide without facing penalty/ sue, it will be another worst
vindication in history of CHT.’

Reference:

Ali Murtaza. Massacre at dawn. (BANGLADESH ECONOMIST – 1
July 1984: Vol-2)

Moinuddin Nasser. Massacre at Bhushanchara. (BANGLADESH
TODAY, 16-30 JUNE 1984)

Atiqur Rahman. A writer, researcher, specialist on CHT.
Bilombito Parbatta Ghatana – 1 & 2 (Belated incident in Hills – 1&2)