Two large-scale bank robberies in less than 24 hours are certainly a very sensitive and sensational event in terms of security. Although the incident was termed as a 'bank robbery', it was not just a petty crime by a thief-robber. Behind these attacks are specific ethnic grievances, the failure of elite-controlled politics in the Chattogram Hill Tracts and ideological incentives, on the basis of which the armed group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) is carrying out these terrorist activities to destabilize the Chattogram Hill Tracts. In these armed ways they have occasioned robbery, but their main aim is greater and far-reaching.
What message does the KNF want to send through such an attack when the government's peace talks with this anti-peace organization are ongoing and an agreement is expected to be signed on the 16th? What disloyalty to peace and agreement did they show through this massive operation? Moreover, although in the past they have attacked individuals or neighborhoods, this is the first time that the KNF has launched a concerted attack on the administration and government facilities. They have taken a large number of people hostages. They have looted government weapons and bank money. They controlled the activities of mosques and markets. It was also possible for the KNF to do something big if it wanted to because, preventive security measures were not satisfactory at all.
After the bank robbery in Ruma on Tuesday (April 02) night, the administration demanded special security, but it was nothing. In fact, the junior officers and employees of the upazila level are not supposed to understand the importance and depth of the incident. As a result, the next day (Wednesday, April 3) two more bank robberies and robberies took place in the afternoon. It has also exposed the weaknesses of security systems in border-adjacent and conflict-prone areas.
The KNF has carried out sabotage in the past as well. They have been meeting in stages to bring them into confidence through discussion and compromise. KNF has not deviated from its main goal even though it has slowed down for a while. This time the KNF demonstrated its strength by openly organizing large-scale attacks and challenging the administration and institutions. They dared to attack mosques, markets and public places. Even within a day of the attack, such a second attack, robbery, looting of weapons and hostage-taking took place. That they are ready and undeterred, this message is easily read through the analysis of KNF's actions.
One thing is very clear that these attacks prove that they have no faith in peace talks with the government. If there was, the KNF would not have taken an offensive role during the ongoing negotiations and during the holy month of Ramadan.
Their purpose is greater. To build a large-scale unity and achieve greater political objectives with the Kuki-Chin ethnic groups of India and Myanmar parts of India and Myanmar bordering India or Bangladesh.
In the ongoing ethnic armed conflict in Myanmar, the Kuki-Chin or their cohorts are active. These groups are being strengthened politically and militarily by fueling domestic and foreign forces. In Myanmar they are displacing the government military making India's Manipur and Nagaland conflict. Bandarban in the Chattogram Hill Tracts of Bangladesh is freely carrying out armed threats.
As a result, KNF is active not only in Bangladesh, but also internationally. Many countries are facing security threats due to them. And KNF is not a national organization, but a regional organization. As a result, these issues should be kept in mind when discussing with them and suppressing them.
In particular, without a clear understanding of their political intentions and military strength, the possibility of a larger-scale disaster in the future cannot be ruled out. Because, this time, during the Bandarban series of robberies, KNF has committed crimes without interruption. The administration lacked the preparedness and energy to counter them, prompting the need to strengthen the security system.
Policy makers also need to rethink mountain politics and security strategies. It should also be considered whether it is possible to bring the KNF into the fold like other organizations in the mountains in the traditional way. Within days of a former minister holding a royal farewell party with military-civilian people in Bandarban, the KNF launched a large-scale public attack. As a result, there is no reason to believe that hill power politics can handle this radical force.
Dr. Mahfuz Parvez, Professor, University of Chattogram and Executive Director, Chattogram Center for Regional Studies, Bangladesh (CCRSBD).