17 Christian Tripura Community Houses Burnt in Alleged Arson Attack in Bangladesh
First Published: 26th December, 2024 13:25 IST
The incident occurred at around 12:30 am in the Notun Tongjhiri Tripura Para area, located in the Sarai union of Lama upazila.
Seventeen houses belonging to the Christian Tripura community were burnt down in an alleged arson attack in Bangladesh’s Bandarban on December 25 morning.
According to a report by the Daily Star, the incident occurred at around 12:30 am in the Notun Tongjhiri Tripura Para area, located in the Sarai union of Lama upazila. According to the victims, unidentified miscreants fled the scene after setting fire to the houses, while the residents were away attending prayers and Christmas celebrations in another village, as there was no church in their area.
Locals reported that 17 of the 19 houses belonging to the Tripura community were completely destroyed in the fire. The Tripura people have lived in this area for generations, but a few years ago, they were forcibly evicted by individuals claiming the land had been leased to the wife of a police official during the Awami League regime. These individuals later planted trees in the area. However, the Tripura families returned after the fall of the Awami League regime, rebuilding their homes and resettling in the village.
Paisapru Tripura, the headman of Notun Tongjhiri Para, recalled that a group identifying themselves as “the SP’s men” had evicted the community four to five years ago. The group claimed that the area had been leased to Benazir Ahmed, the former inspector general of police, in the name of his wife.
Victim Gungamani Tripura expressed shock and sorrow, saying, “Our houses have been completely burned to ashes. We couldn’t save anything. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of the year for us. I never imagined something like this would happen on Christmas.”
The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has strongly condemned the attack, calling it an act of violence against the Tripura community. Local authorities have already dispatched officers to investigate the incident. A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed, and raids are being conducted to arrest the culprits.
The Deputy Commissioner and the police chief of Bandarban are scheduled to visit the affected village today. Sarai Union Parishad Chairman Md Idris confirmed the burning of at least 17 houses and stated that the situation was being investigated. During a visit to the area, Lama’s acting upazila nirbahi officer, Ruppayan Deb, provided immediate assistance to the affected families, offering blankets and rice, and assured that further steps would be taken after consulting with the deputy commissioner and other officials.
Md Enamul Haque Bhuiyan, the inspector of Lama Police Station, confirmed that the police are working to bring the criminals to justice, noting that the area has been plagued with land-related disputes since the fall of the Awami League regime in August 2025.
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