Photo: Upajatiyo Muslim Kallyan Sangstha’ (Tribal Muslim Welfare Organization) in Lama
Hill Voice, Special Report: The program that is designed to convert the indigenous Jumma people of having faith in Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity to Islam has got a momentum in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in recent times. Especially, in Bandarban district, conversion to Islam is being carried out by alluring the ‘no-where-to-go’ peoples of indigenous origin to embrace Islam in turns of financial facilities, education, healthcare, house building, domestication of livestock, interest-free loan, etc. Meanwhile, new localities have been raised under the banners, namely, ‘Upajatiyo Muslim Adarsha Sangha’ (Tribal Muslim Ideal Congregation), ‘Upajatiyo Muslim Kallyan Sangstha’ (Tribal Muslim Welfare Organization), Upajatiyo Adarsha Sangha Bangladesh’ (Tribal Ideal Congregation Bangladesh), etc. and the process of converting the Jumma people to Islam is being conducted through these organizations.
Alongside, news stating collection of small children from their parents and getting them admitted in Madrasas in Dhaka, Gazipur and in various places without knowledge of their parents and converting them to Islam has appeared in various media on different occasions. On the other hand, the events of marrying the indigenous girls by way of enticing or pretending love and then converting to Islam have already gone viral in various social media in recent days. In some cases, several days after the marriage, occurrences of meting out physical torture upon the indigenous women and driving them out on various pleas, have also taken place. Even it has come to notice that the recorded videos involving sexual acts with the Jumma women are unleashed in the social media.
Needless to say, CHT has been a Non-Muslim inhabited region since the time immemorial. The indigenous people namely, Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Mro, Bawm, Khyang, Lushai, Pungkho, Khumi, Chak, etc. have been dwelling in CHT since the time immemorial and they practice Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity and love to introduce themselves as ‘Jumma’ (High Landers) collectively.
During India-Pakistan partition in 1947, the population of these indigenous races believing in Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity was 97.5% in totality while the Muslim Bengali and Hindu Bengali population would comprise 1.5% and 1.0% respectively. The then British authority, having the India Partition Act 1947 completely violated, annexed the non-Muslim inhabited CHT to Islamic state of Pakistan. At this, the Jumma people protested vehemently and demanded for annexation to India. But the demand had raised by the Jumma people remained ignored due to indifference attitude of the then Indian national leaders including the Indian National Congress.
The Pakistan government undertook a conspiring program to turn the non-Muslim inhabited CHT region into a Muslim-inhabited area soon after its annexation to Pakistan. Among other objectives that may be cited here, are: to cancel the existing British-introduced law, regulation and legal provisions, which would comprise a safeguard to the Jumma people; to settle the Muslim population in CHT violating the existent law; to break the economic backbone of the Jumma people through adoption of ‘Development Engineering’; to evict the Jumma people from their ancestral land; and over all, to convert the indigenous people having faith in Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity to Islam gradually.
After independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the successive governments kept implementing the Pakistani plan of turning the non-Muslim inhabited CHT into a Muslim dominated region continued unabatedly. The illustration of the genre is: rehabilitation of more than 4 lakhs Muslim Bengali population in CHT from plains under government financial support from 1979 to 1985. Alongside went on, the program of converting the Jumma people to Islam by entrapping them in various allurements or posing threats. Consequently, the Jumma and Muslim ratio, which would comprise 98:2 in 1947, now it is getting reverse after 73 years. At present, the ratio of Muslim Bengali and Jumma people stands 55:45 and it is very likely that there will be a reverse picture meant the Muslim Bengali and Jumma people ratio will stand 98:2 in the coming 2047 – such will be the population pattern of the region named CHT in Bangladesh.
The program of conversion to Islam took an ebb tide after signing of the CHT Accord between Bangladesh government and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) in 1997. But owing to not having the Accord implemented even all through the 23 years, especially, the Accord for not being implemented even the Awami League – the signatory counter-part of the Accord, after being in the state power at a stretch for long 12 years, at present, under the shade of administration, the program converting the Jumma people to Islam by the fundamentalist groups has become rejuvenated. Some of the illustrations are furnished herein under:
Education as a Trap: Admission to Madrasas and Conversion to Islam
In some hard-to-reach areas of the country, the indigenous children living therein, are being forced to detract from their respective faiths and to get converted to Islam. The indigenous children hailing from poor and illiterate families are falling prey to such conversion because of extreme poverty of their families, inability in sending the children to schools for inaccessible terrain and sheer distance. Taking the advantage, with a view to converting the indigenous communities to Islam, the Islamic fundamentalist groups, as part of their plan to Islamize the whole country, are engaged in working secretly. In this mission, they are using the EDUCATION as a bid to allure the Jumma people.
Many indigenous people cherish a longing to put their children to education but they do not have ability to do so and this aspect is chosen by the Islamic fundamentalist clique as a golden opportunity and possible sneaking hole for conversion to Islam. The children of poor and illiterate indigenous families comprise the primary vulnerable prey to such conversion.
Since, most of the ethnic indigenous races live in the remote rural areas and it is for this reason they lack the opportunity of studying comparatively in good school, even though, if at all there is any school. The indigenous children have to walk to school crossing several kilometers. Besides, the Jumma peoples, for being belonged to one of the poorest sections of the national society, many indigenous families remain incapable of sending their children to good schools due to financial constraints. Consequently, their vulnerability appears when they seek any opportunity that can ascertain good education for their children.
It is learnt that the Islamic fundamentalists, showing allurement with a claim that they will arrange education in good schools and assuring of various facilities, they attract the insolvent indigenous families. But in reality, the religious fundamentalists of the sort never take the indigenous children to good schools; rather take them to the Madrasas, the Islamic educational institutions, with an ill intention to convert them to Islam. Right therein, gradually, they isolate the children from their families, society and culture and make them learn and accept Islamic religion and culture.
On 1 January 2017, the police rescued four indigenous children from ‘Athiti Abasik Hotel’ in Bandarban town during being tracked to a Madrasa in Dhaka. Abu Bakar Siddique (45), the converted Muslim, earlier known as Mong Swe Prue Chowdhury and Mohammad Hasan (25), have been learnt as the key men behind the trafficking. They were caught red-handed and arrested. On the other end, Suman Khyang, their associate could escape the arrest. After arrest, a case of human trafficking was filed with the Bandarban police station. All of the four children rescued from the hotel are inhabitants of Tarachha Union of Rowangchhari Upazila under Bandarban hill district. The families of the children were allured of providing educational opportunities in Dhaka at free of cost.
The children who were rescued are from Tarachha Union of Rowangchhari Upazila under Bandarban hill district and they are: Ms Maching Soi Marma (12), daughter of Uhla Aung Marma of Headman Para; Thuaihla Marma (8), son of U Pachinu Marma; Ms Nuchhing U Marma (12), daughter of Sau Prue Marma of Betchharamukh Para and Ms Meching Prue Marma (13), daughter of Aung Thuai Ching Marma of Boidya Para. The families of the children were allured of free education arrangement of their children in Dhaka by the traffickers’ clique.
Many indigenous families hailing from deprived and illiterate environment in remote areas easily step into the trap in the false hope of better future of their children. But this does not always go without expense; the families concerned have to spend some amount of money from several thousands and onward. Since, no hint is given on religious conversion, the simple-minded parents easily accede to the proposal for better future of their children.
Kapeeng Foundation, in its publication prior to the Annual Human Rights Report-2017, brought forth several occurrences of this kind. During 7 years before those incidents, the police rescued at least 70 indigenous children mostly belonged to the faiths of Hinduism and Christianity, from different parts of the country. All those children were poached from Bandarban hill district.
Earlier on 2 January 2013, the police rescued 16 indigenous children from a Madrasa named Abujor Jifari Masjid Complex under Sobujbag police station in Dhaka. The children were forcibly converted to Islam. These children ethnically belonged to Tripura and Chakma communities from various areas of Rangamati hill district had been trafficked to Dhaka by way of cheating. Besides, on 4 February 2013, another group of indigenous children were rescued by the leaders of Hill Students Council and Tripura Students Forum from Dhaka. The children were being taken away from Chimbuk area of Bandarban hill district to a Madrasa in Firojpur district. They were assured of getting admitted to a Missionary School.
Earlier in July 2012, 11 Tripura indigenous children were rescued from various madrasas of Gazipur and Dhaka city. Of them, 8 children were rescued from Dar-Ul-Huda Islami Madrasa and 1 female child from a madrasa of Mohammadpur while 2 other children were rescued from Dar-ul-Huda Madrasa of Gulshan area.
In January 2010, the police rescued 33 children from a motel named: ‘Athiti Boarding’ in Bandarban town. These children, after having collected from Thanchi Upazila of Bandarban, were being taken to Dhaka on assurance and allurement that they would be admitted in Dhanmondi Adarsha Madina School. This time, the police arrested 3 child traffickers namely, Gordon Tripura alias Rubel, Abu Horaira, a student of Dhaka Dar-ul-Ehshan Madrasa and Abdul Gani, a resident of Shyamoli in Dhaka.
On the other hand, Muhammadia Jamia Sharifa, known as ‘Laden Group’ captured 7,000 acres of hill lands in Lama Upazila of Bandarban hill district. Among other activities of Laden Group, significant programs are: forcible occupation of lands and homesteads of indigenous people, to convert the indigenous Buddhist and Christian people to Islam by showing various allurements including money and with temptation of providing developed and higher education to take away the indigenous children to Dhaka by tricking means. This group has already occupied 25 acres of lands from Mong Thui Marma, Headman of Fasyakhali Mouza and hundreds of acres of lands from Mro, Tripura and Marma indigenous community people of Fasyakhali and Sangu Mouza. The Laden Group is alleged of forcible occupation of lands from indigenous people and raise commercial plantations and conduct radical terrorist activities in this area.
On the other hand, in Lama Upazila of Bandarban, many Jumma students were lured and admitted to Quantum School and College established in 2001 by a national NGO named ‘Quantum Foundation’. In Quantum School Boarding, restriction on talking in mother tongue is imposed upon the boarders. As a result, the indigenous Jumma children happen to forget own mother tongue due to lack of liberty to speak in own mother tongue. Especially, there has arisen allegation of building the Jumma children in light of the Islamic culture, as the Quantum is inclined to Islam. In the college, though there is no direct encouragement for conversion to Islam, the students are shaped in Islamic mannerism and code of conduct. The students are made to wish by saying: ‘Assalamu Alikum’, ‘Oaalaikum salaam’, etc. in the classroom. It is also taught how to do the Namaaz.
The Quantum organization, since its very inception, with an objective to woo the Jumma people used to slaughter hundreds of cows on Qurban-Eid days and would distribute away the beef by calling at the Jumma people living in nearby areas. The objective behind the treatment was to manipulate the easy-and-simple-minded Jumma people, the Mro people in particular, and to snatch away their lands and at the same time, to let them getting habituated with the culture of Islamic food habit. On 6-7 May 2017, while a team of civic society representatives from Dhaka came to investigate the allegations of snatching away 2,000 acres of lands by Quantum from the Jumma people and the Jumma students forgetting their mother tongue due to restriction imposed upon them in Lama, the army intercepted and prevented the team. Consequently, the team of civic society representatives had to return back to Dhaka without investigation.
The constitution of Bangladesh prohibits coercive imparting of education on religion. Article-41(2) of the constitution states: ‘No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction, or to take part in or to attend any religious ceremony or worship, if that instruction, ceremony or worship relates to a religion other than his own.’ Yet, the indigenous children and their parents, for stepping upon the education trap, forcible conversion of indigenous children to Islam is going on unabatedly. The state, in one hand, is getting failed in establishing the indigenous children’s right to education while it is violating the constitution, on the other.
Despite being so, as to this day, no initiative is noticed to have taken to save the indigenous children from getting converted from their own religion to another religion – a process being carried out by the government and non-government institutions. So far, no precise data and information from the government and non-government institution is available on how many indigenous children were made undergo conversion to Islam. If any measure is not undertaken with immediate effect to prevent such religious conversion, many indigenous children will bound to lose their faith, culture and livelihood.
Conversion by Upajatiyo Muslim Adarsha Sangha and Tableague Jamat in Lama and Alikadam
On 1 January 2018, it was through the Upajatiyo Muslim Adarsha Sangha (Tribal Muslim Ideal Congregation) and Dawat-E-Tableague secret religious conversion of the poor Jumma people began with 14 poor and helpless indigenous families at 11 Kilometer-point area of Alikadam-Thanchi Road of Bandarban hill district in the name of providing financial assistance in the form of interest-free loan, giving domestic cattle and education facilities to their children, etc. thus luring the poor Jumma families in various ways to get them converted to Islam.
Confidential source reveals that Dr. Mohammad Yusuf Ali, Managing Director of Idgaon Model Hospital and Diabetes Center had developed a relationship with the local poor Jumma people through dispensation of humanitarian services including free medical treatment to the helpless, poor and distressed people. He happened to meet the converted tribal Muslims who went to his hospital for treatment. Upon knowing about their problems, he took good arrangement for education of their children. At present, 19 Jumma children are studying in various madrasas. Many are studying in various madrasa educational institutions in Idgaon.
On talking to the tribal Muslims, it is learnt that subject to acceptance of Islam, one will be given various financial assistance and opportunities, such as, cattle for domestication, hard cash, interest-free loan and living house, etc. allurements. Abu Bakar Siddique (earlier Atiram Tripura by name), who was converted from Christianity to Islam said that for becoming a Muslim, one needs to go to the court and bring a change to the name and religion through signing an Affidavit. He also informed that his son Saiful Islam (earlier name Raphael Tripura) is now serving as a staff in the Dr. Yusuf’s hospital.
Further he said that it is mentioned in the Bible: ‘Search for the truth and the truth will set you free.’ He added that while searching for the truth he accepted Islam. His parents including his brothers – all have become Muslims. On the other hand, Jasmine Akhter (earlier Jharna Tripura) of Alikadam, Sadekul Islam (earlier name Joykhorn Tripura) of Rowangchhari and Nurul Islam (earlier name Prashanta Tripura) of Gayalmara – all have informed that they underwent Affidavit process to accept Islam. They also mentioned that after their conversion to Islam, while communicated, Dr. Yusuf Ali extends helping hand with humanitarian outlook.
On the other end, 45 indigenous families living in Gayalmara of Lama Upazila under Bandarban hill districts have been converted to Islam on assurance of giving financial assistance and other facilities, led by Tribal Muslim Welfare Organization, Upayatiyo Adarsha Sangha Bangladesh and from Tubleague and Jamat are: Alem Hafez Mohammad Jahirul Islam, Hafez Mohammad Kamal, Mohammad Mohammadulah, Hafez Mohammad Slamatullah, Maulavi Hela Uddin (Tripura) and Saiful Islam (Tripura), President of Upajatiyo Nuo Muslim Adarsha Sangha.
Thus, Jasmine Akhter earlier name Jharna Tripura of Alikadam, Sadekul Islam, earlier name Joykhron Tripura of Rowangchhari, Nurul Islam, earlier name Prashanta Tripura – all have fallen victim to religious conversion to Islam. Along with, 45 indigenous families residing at 11 km-point of Alikadam-Thanchi Highway area have been converted to Islam.
It is learnt through investigation in person that more than 30 families belonging to Khyang and Tripura indigenous people living at Bus Station of Bandarban town were converted to Islam in 1999 and more than 15 families of Nuo Tripura Muslim living in Tanki Para were converted to Islam in 2001.
In Linejhiri village of Lama Upazila under Bandarban, more than 17 families belonging to Tripura indigenous community were converted to Islam in 1995. During the last Upazilla Election, Sareban Tahura (Tripura) wife of Mohammad Rasel Tripura (earlier Ramendra Tripura) was elected Woman Vice-Chairman. Since 2000, some 16 indigenous Tripura families who were converted to Islam have been living in Kraudong (Dim Pahar) by side of Alikadam-Thanchi road, under Rupsi Union of Bandarban hill district.
Conversion by the Region Commander of Dighinala
Colonel Mahabub Hasan, Region Commander of Dighinala forcibly converted 8 Chakma people to Islam with financial allurement in 1992. They were: (1) Boli Ranjan Chakma renamed Mohammad Sajed Ali, (2) Ms Swarna Chakma renamed Fatema Khatun, (3) Ms Rasik Guri Chakma renamed Mosammat Roushan Ara Begum, (4) Ms Milabo Chakma renamed Mosammat Taslila Khatun, (5) Dighi Kumar Chakma renamed Mohammad Abdullah, (6) Ms Sukhi Chakma renamed Mosammat Sakhina Khatun and (7) Shankar Chakma renamed Abdul Shahid Mohammmad Saiful Islam. Maulavi Hafez Mohammad Abul Basar got them initiated to Islam and made them take oath Mohammad Masud Rana, Thana Nirbahi Officer of Dighinala upazila. The persons converted to Islam are all residents of Banchhara under Dighinal Upazila (Source: Sneha Kumar Chakma Jibonalekkhya, Page-208)
The blue-print directed to bring the indigenous Jumma people under planned conversion to Islam is being executed through some Islamic fundamentalist and anti-Jumma Islamic groups in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The plan or program has though begun long ago, its gravity of momentous activities seems to have been accelerated to a wide-range extent in recent days. As the conversion process is undergoing locally in the three hill districts of the CHT, so is the process of initiating the indigenous Jumma children to Islam is being carried out by taking them out side CHT by luring their parents to good education.
In 2017, as per the reports and news published through various mass media including the Dhaka Tribune, Buddhistdoor.net and heraldmalayasia.com, within the 7-year span from January 2010 to January 2017, 72 indigenous Jumma children have been rescued by the police alone from the hands of Islamic clique involved in the religious conversion. Apart from this, that many indigenous families and children have fallen prey to the Islamic clique is easy a job to comprehend. It is learnt that the activities of religious conversion have spurred to high degree in recent times.
In recent days, from the reports, data and information published in various domestic and international media, social media, videos and posts the trend has appeared more vividly. During the last a few years, especially, soon after outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, news has been received on wide-scale conversion of indigenous Jumma people to Islam in various areas including the Alikadam Upazilla of Bandarban hill district wherein, involvement of the army by consent and assistance has been acceded to.
Apparently, the religious conversion process may seem to be an isolated or ordinary affair but a steady inner look will unearth the process to have been a part of planned and well-coordinated lot. That there has been the hands of fundamentalists and communal groups in the program is needless to be mentioned. At the same time, it has also appeared to be crystal clear that the army has been indulging the process closely. On the other hand, it is also paradoxical that these happenings are taking place under the eyes of the local Jumma leaders of the ruling party and authority. Of course, involvement of the army and administration in the acts of conversion and cultural aggression has also been noticed in different course of time earlier.
On 4 June 2020, Nipon Tripura in his Facebook status wrote: ‘In Bandarban, the town of communal harmony, while making use of the financial insolvency, the history of unabated conversion of the remote-living Tripuras to Islam is a tale of many years old. But now, that has got increased by many times.
On the same day, Longduksa Mougro M, indicating the issue in his Facebook status wrote: ‘The easy and simple minded indigenous Jumma people are being converted to Islam by deception. How to do ‘Monajat’ (taking pose and saying prayers) is being taught. It is a part of Islamization in CHT. It has been learnt that the government, itself, is involved in the mission. Amid COVID-19 outbreak, a great pomp with the Islamization & Bengalization Project has overwhelmed the atmosphere of Alikadam in Bandarban.’
Marginalization, Poverty and Illiteracy: Vulnerability to Religious Conversion
In the country, the CHT is one of the areas that has been, for long, deprived of facilities, economically backward, neglected and politically instable and suppressed. As the region had to become a victim of extreme negligence, exploitation, deprivation and discrimination during the regime of Islamic state Pakistan, even after independence of Bangladesh, so as the holistic lifestyle of people, had to pass all through a fragile situation due to oppression and suppression of political rights and movement of the people of this region.
On 2 December 1997, though the CHT Accord 97 was signed between Bangladesh government Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) aiming at perennial solution to the CHT crisis, resolution to the conflict and establishing rights of the permanent residents including the Jumma people, even over the last 23 years, the Accord has not been fully and even the key issues have not been precisely implemented. Consequently, solution to the CHT crisis, peace in the localities and balanced development of people and development of political, economic, social and cultural lifestyles of the Jumma people have remained in that of the darkness.
Especially, Awami League, the party that had signed the Accord, despite being in the state power at a stretch for one decade and on top of all, due to stepping upon the role of violating and contradicting to the Accord, there came down uncertainty, instability, despair and resentment along the public life in CHT. In this circumstance, illegal occupation of lands from Jumma people, eviction from their ancestral lands and homesteads, meting out atrocities upon them, deprivation and so on being carried out by various quarters of vested interest have got enhanced. Consequently, this has made the life and livelihood of many other sections of indigenous people go towards marginal condition.
The Islamic fundamentalist clique has derived enthusiasm in implementing their blue-print of religious conversion from the two sides of reality that is, in one hand, marginal condition of the indigenous people, social isolation, financial catastrophy, their illiteracy and ignorance while extended favoritism and patronization of the government, administration and local interest-hunting groups, on the other.
Has Bandarban become a paradise to the perpetrators of religious conversion?
Though all the three hill districts of CHT are the target and working zone to the Islamic fundamentalist perpetrators of religious conversion, yet in the recent days, the activities of getting the poverty-ridden indigenous people converted to Islam has increased to an alarming stage. It appears that Bandarban has become a paradise to the perpetrators of religious conversion. According to one source, in Alikadam, Rowangchhari and Lama including Bandarban municipality, there are more than 10 Jumma Muslim localities in various areas in Bandarban hill district. The converted Jumma Muslims are called ‘Nou Muslims’ or ‘Tribal Muslims.’ Centering these localities as the base points and by giving some facilities to some selected Nou Muslims, effort is being made to expand the conversion program through them.
Allegations with various evidences reveal the active involvement of Imam of Alikadam Upazilla Jam-E-Masjid Moulana AKM Ayub Khan, Dr. Yusif Ali, Hafez Moulana Salamatullah, former Chairman of Alikadam Sadar Union Parishad Farid Ahmmed, Chairman of Alikadam Upazila Parishad Abul Kalam, Mohammad Zahid, Sahab Uddin, Moulana Imran Habibi and Mohammad Ayub, among others.
On the other hand, among the Nou Muslims some persons who are actively involved in the religious conversion have been identified as, one converted Chakma Muslim named Mohammad Shahid, Moulavi Helal Uddin Tripura, Vice-President of Upajatyo Muslim Adarsha Sangha (Tribal Muslim Ideal Congregation), converted Muslim Ibrahim Tripura, General Secretary of Upajatiyo Muslim Adarsha Sangha, converted Muslim and Teacher of Muslim Para Model Academy Saiful Islam Tripura, Abu Bakar Siddique (earlier name Atirom Tripura), Mohammad Abdur Rahim (earlier name Vincent Chakma), Mohammad Abdur Rahman (earlier name Bhanda Chakma) and Mohammad Ibrahim (earlier name Bhabat Chakma), among others.
Recently, a video showing some ordinary Jumma people including children and women were being trained on Monajat (a posture of saying prayers) in a banana garden of a contour in Alikadam of Bandarban hill district. In the video clip, Moulana AKM Ayub Khan, Imam of Alikadam Upazilla Parishad Jam-e-Masjid is seen conducting the Monajat event. In this event, some 10/11 Jumma people of various ages including 3 children and 4 females of various ages are seen receiving Monajat training. A good number of Muslim Bengalis also participated in the occasion.
In another video clip recorded and articulated by Moulana AKM Ayub Khan, Imam of the Alikadam Upazilla Porishad Jam-e-Masjid, it is learnt that meanwhile, a village named ‘Islampur’ has already been established with the converted Muslims at 11 Kilometer-point of Thanchi road and that the ‘Muslim Para Model Academy’ has been established there. These Masjid and Madrasa have been established there so that the converted Muslims, while forgetting their own tradition and culture, can become orthodox Muslims. An organization named ‘Upajatiyo Muslim Adarsha Sangha’ has also been constituted. Even the adolescent girls of these indigenous converted Muslim families are being directly encouraged to give in marriage to the Muslim Bengali youths. It is learnt that there are at least 45 indigenous converted Muslim families at 11 Kilometer-point of the Thanchi road.
According to the local source, it is only two-month back, 5 indigenous Marma families of Chhahlawa Para (Shilbandha village) of Aleikhyong Union under Rowangchhari Upazila of Bandarban hill district have been converted to Islam. The converted families are: (1) Aungoching Marma (family members-5); (2) Khyaisathui Marma (family members-4); (3) Regyaching Marma (family members-6); (4) Singnu Maung Marma (family members-5) – a former UP member whose daughter had married a Muslim Bengali man 10-15 years ago; and (5) Loisang Mong Marma (family members-7).
It has been learnt that none of them has accepted Islam to the best knowledge or being keen to become a Muslim. Taking advantage of their poverty, they were converted to Islam by tricking. Two sons of Regyaching Marma and Aungyoching Marma respectively, were admitted to Madrasa luring them to bright future and in exchange, they were included as Muslims. It has been learnt that National Identity Cards of the victims were collected from them on pretext of giving Solar Panel to them following which their names were included as Muslims in the list.
Dr. Yusuf Ali and Moulana AKM Ayub Khan: King Pins?
Based on information and data as received from local and various other sources, in converting the indigenous Jumma people to Islam, the persons who are being noticed to be the most active in recent times are: Dr. Yusuf Ali, an outsider physician and Moulana AKM Ayub Khan, the Imam of Alikadam Upazilla Porishad Jam-e-Masjid. Taking advantage of their neediness and luring them to various facilities, the duo have been trying to convert the indigenous peoples and are extending helps including in doing formalities with Affidavit in the court of law and other legal and financial assistance to the indigenous peoples, the would be Muslims.
On a look into, it has been learnt that Dr. Yusuf Ali’s village residence is in Bogura district but he resides in Cox’s Bazaar. He is founder of Idgah Model Hospital & Diabetes Center and holding responsibilities as the Executive Director and Residential Surgeon there. It has been learnt that in various other places including Alikadam of Bandarban wherever he gets opportunity, he ensures his active help & assistance, counselling & consultancy and patronization very calculatively and tactfully in converting the indigenous Jumma people to Islam. On the other hand, as he, himself, a physician and financially capable, it is for this, more often he is converting the indigenous peoples to Islam at providing treatment free of cost or some financial assistance.
Having a selfie together with Dr. Mong A Nu Chak, on 3 June 2020, Dr. Yusuf Ali posted a Facebook status in which he wrote: ‘We hate racism but believe in brotherhood.’ But that taking advantage of simplicity, poverty and illiteracy of the indigenous Jumma people, he is imposing Muslim-Bengali racism through converting them to Islam and has been ruining their respective culture – is it that he has lost his very sense of his sinuous deeds? By showering sweet words and under concealment of humanitarian service – is he not doing utterly inhuman and heinous act in middle-age manner?
On 28 May 2020, he wrote in his Facebook status: ‘One of our dear Nou Muslims is Ms Parveen Tripura. She would study in a Madrasa in Manikgaunj. Her mother and her present father are also Nou Muslims. For Madrasa education, her Taqwa (with Eemaan or Faith and adherence to the righteous path) has been admirable. Her parents, even though being Muslims, prioritize on Tripura culture in comparison to Islamic culture. …Once, she was taken home on holidays and she was not allowed to go back to Madrasa. Her father burnt down her Burkha so that she could not go out. They tried to give her in marriage. She set a condition that the bridegroom might have to be a Hafez or Alem. But they fixed a matrimonial contract without her disagreement. She could realize that her walk along Islamic path will get closed. Then she talked to her female friend. Before breaking of the dawn, she escaped from home wearing her friend’s Burkha. …We received the message of her reaching Madrasa.We got relieved. She comes home no more again.’
Later on, Dr. Yusuf Ali arranged her marriage with Hafez Moulana Salamatullah, the Imam of Cox’s Bazaar Idgah Central Mosque.
One Hillary Try Mhvc while chatting in Facebook on Parveen Tripura wrote in Comment box: ‘I do pray for her; after 3/5 years on completion of the tenure, Parveen Tripura will not go and stand at the threshold of her father’s house.’ In reply, Dr. Yusuf Ali wrote: ‘Why not? Of course, she will; and she will go on a Mission of Purification. Her younger brother has already begun studying ‘Quran Hifaj.’ Here, what did Dr. Yusuf Ali exactly want to mean by the words ‘mission of purification’? Is it not the clear indication of his words that his so-called ‘mission of purification’ will be geared up through conversion of those infidel or impure indigenous people with the genre of this Parveen Tripura or Chakma-Marma-turned converted Muslims?
It is under leadership of this Dr. Yusuf Ali the Mosque and Madrasa were constructed in ‘Islampur’, the village of converted indigenous Jumma Muslims of Alikadam. Under his leadership, sometimes he also organizes events of free medical services with the doctors brought from Baitush Sharif of Cox’s Bazaar.
On 13 May 2020, while posting a photograph, Dr. Yusuf Ali wrote in his facebook status: “The child on my right is Ms Saimuna Tripura, daughter of Omor Faruq Tripura; and the child on my left is Ms Ayesha Mro, son of Ibrahim Mro; and at the middle, I am, the Bangali. Many are the differences but two are the affinities. The first affinity is: we are humans and the second affinity is: we are Muslims. In the photograph, he is flanked by the two children. The children are still too innocent to understand and their age will not be more than two and a half years.
Moulana AKM Ayub Khan who is the Imam of Alikadam Upazila Parishad Jam-e-Mosque, is one of the associates of Dr. Yusuf Ali. It is learnt that he maintains a role as one of the coordinators to look after all affairs of the converted Muslims living in 11 Kilometer-point of Alikadam and in conversion of indigenous Jumma people to Islam in Bandarban. He also plays a vital role in preaching and expanding the conversion program.
Recently, a video clip has been uploaded showing a group of ordinary Jumma people including children and women taking initiation and receiving training of practicing Monajat on a contour of a plaintain trees in Alikadam of Bandarban hill district. In this video clip, 10/11 persons including 3 children, 4 females of various ages and indigenous males of various ages were seen. Apart from them, some Bengali Muslims were also seen taking part in the Monajat event. The Monajat and Initiation event was conducted by Moulana AKM Ayub Khan.
In a video clip recorded towards 2019 and uploaded later in you tube, Moulana AKM Ayub Khan said: “Respected Dwin-E brothers, among you who are watching the video, please take a note. Some days ago, we also uploaded a video in this My Ayub Khan page. It is at 11 Kilometer point of Thanchi road of Alikadam where some of our brothers accepted Islam. Some of their children almost 17-18 are being taught in the Madrasa. We have constructed a mosque for our Nou Muslim brothers, at the will and souab (merit) of one of our Dwini brother’s father. Here is the mosque that you are watching, this mosque…”
Further he said: “…If any one of you want something to do, you can come straight and do it. No trouble will be here. We have obtained permission from the army and they cooperate with us.” However, it is an issue of yet to be investigated that apart from, who else are the individuals from who they get support and patronization in this mission.
When the aim is Jumma women
To convert to Islam, to expand domination and to bring about racial attrition to the Jumma people, the Jumma woman has been included in the aim as one of the means. Apart from violations of raping, killing after rape, kidnapping and sexual assault, etc., in order to strike the Jumma society, as one of the means the technique that has been taken is to spread out a trap of so-called love or in other words: to subjugate the Jumma women by trapping into pretext of love. To that end, marrying a Jumma woman or taking away under elopement means converting her to Islam.
Committing to violation or conversion after getting married – in all the cases the reality that remains existent is: a drill of indifference, indulgence, support and patronization on part of the government or administration or the state, as a whole. It is for the reason of which, even though raping the Jumma women in hundreds, killing after raping and falling prey to various other violations that took place during both pre-Accord and post-Accord eras, precise and proper judgement was done as illustration to none of the crimes. In recent times, though some of the criminals are taken arrested, finally, they are not awarded illustrating punishment.
Alongside violations, trapping the Jumma women in love or pretence of love followed by marriage and then converting to Islam or trend of snatching them away from the society what they call ‘Love Zihad’ is learnt to have increased much in recent days. At this, many Jumma women are being fallen prey to deception and thereby are getting endangered.
In very recent time, an educated Tripura girl fell prey to Love Zihad trap laid by one fraud and perverted Muslim youth. The said Muslim youth took to pretext of love and also developed physical relationship with the girl and deliberately recorded the moments in video clips. At a certain phase, the Muslim youth converted the girl to Islam in a court of law in Dhaka and married her despite disagreement of his parents. Later, the youth tried to involve the girl in various socially unfair activities. During this phase, the girl could realize the ill-motive of the Muslim youth tried to recoil back from him. It is in this very moment, the Muslim youth uploaded the video clips on the social media. As a result, the girl landed in a great crisis.
On 30 May 2020, Pb Chakma Lxr Wangza, shared the post of one Ismail Abir in his Facebook status in which Ismail Abir wrote: “O the Muslim youths, our “Love Zihad” will continue to exist. Our Takia (Liehood) will not be understood by the girls of Hindu, Christian and Buddhist faiths. Apply the weapon called Love to them in such a manner so that they will not be able to realize the motive. So, the mission we had earlier, will have to be updated.
For instances – (1) Blackmail them; (2) it is not suitable to read to many and hence, it has not been mentioned); (3) By some way or the other, lay her in bed for at least once, again, if you can manage to marry her do the followings: (a) marry and convert her to Islam, (2) let her womb carry at least 5 or more children and if you can leave her after letting her carry one more child in womb. Then the girl will find out another Muslim, since, no Hindu man will accept her as his wife; (4) marry infidel girls as many as you can and leave them while carrying child in womb.’
It is to be mentioned that, up till this day, many Jumma women while falling victims to such deception or ‘Love Zihad’, have become prey to tragedy in their personal, family and social life. In fact, the thought and events are deeply rooted in hateful outlook upon the indigenous community and brutal lust towards the indigenous women.
Religious Conversion: Part of Ethnic Cleansing!
Islam has been recognized as State religion in the constitution. On the other hand, it has also been mentioned in the constitution that the state shall ensure equal status and rights in practicing the Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and other faiths. According to the Census: 2011, there are 8.5% people practicing Hinduism and only 1% practicing Buddhism, Christianity and other faiths. But the Islam of Bangladesh, all the more, is set to ruin the existence of this small number of people believing in faiths other than Islam!
Many Jumma people are to allege that the religious conversion drive is being carried out as a part of racial attrition of the Jumma people from CHT by way of turning the non-Muslim region into an absolute Muslim Bangali dominated area and to assert Islamization that way. Even, it cannot be left aside as to whether it is a part of intention or conspiracy to establish an Islamic state of Islamic militant groups by incorporating Arakan, Cox’s Bazaar and the three hill districts of CHT.
In fact, the conspiracy of Islamization began soon after independence of the country. However, this program got momentum in early 1980s, which is towards 1979-80 through bringing 4 to 5 lakhs Muslim Bengalis from plains into CHT and rehabilitated in the lands of Jumma people with a mean political objective. With financial support of Saudi Arab and Kuwait, the Islamic missionary organization named ‘Al Rabita’ was established at Longadu Upazila of Rangamati hill district in 1980. The organization runs a hospital and a college at its own.
Indeed, the specific objective of this organization is to expand Islam and that to provide assistance to the Muslim settlers and alongside to undertake efforts to convert the indigenous Jumma people to Islam. The close relationship of this organization is noticeable with the Jamat-e-Islam and Islam Chhatra Shibir (Islamic Students Camp). Apart from the hospital in Longadu, the organization also owns hospitals in Barkal Upazila or Rangamati hill district and Alikadam Upazilla of Bandarban hill district. In 1990, the Al-Rabita Missionary Center converted 17 indigenous Marma people to Islam in Alikadam.
It is needless to say in a nut shell that the result or consequence of religious conversion, marginalizing the Jumma people to the barest minimal numbers, cultural aggression upon them or destroying their culture, damaging their political, social, cultural and religious lifestyles, turning the non-Muslim area into a Muslim-dominated region, is, above and all, another version of racial attrition of the Jumma people from CHT.
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