By Dinesh Kumar Pariyar/Devi Prasad Gautam

London, September 28 – Members of the UK-based Bangladeshi community gathered outside Downing Street today to protest against ongoing violence and human rights violations faced by the indigenous Jumma people in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts. Demonstrators held placards and chanted for justice, calling for an end to the atrocities they describe as ethnic cleansing in the region.

The protest, organized by Jumma Solidarity UK, saw passionate activists advocating for the rights of the Jumma people, who have faced decades of state violence and marginalization. Nipun Chakma, one of the campaign coordinators, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Our voices represent the Jumma people, who have been silenced for far too long. The atrocities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts cannot go unnoticed any longer, and we are here to demand justice and media attention.”

The Jumma people, a collective of 12 indigenous tribes from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, have long struggled for autonomy and the preservation of their cultural and territorial rights. Despite international pressure for peace, the region remains plagued by violence, displacement, and violations of human rights. Fellow protester Jun San highlighted the importance of global awareness, saying, “We appeal to everyone to join us in amplifying the message of the Jumma people. Together, we can break the media silence and push for an end to the violence and injustice.”

Representatives from other organizations also joined the protest, including Vikkhu Anand of the Bangladesh Buddhist Association UK, who urged the international community to take action against the violence faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh.

The Jumma people, including groups like the Chakma, Marma, and Tripura, are the indigenous minority in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Many Jumma people speak Tibeto-Burman languages and practice Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, or Islam, marking their cultural and linguistic differences from the ethnic Bengali majority in Bangladesh.

The violence against the Jumma people intensified between 1978 and 1990 when government-led resettlement programs displaced indigenous communities, sparking conflict between Bengali settlers and the minority tribes. More than 15 major conflicts have erupted since, causing many Jumma to flee to neighboring countries like India and Burma.

Despite a peace accord signed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 1997, tensions and violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts continue, with little international intervention. The protest in London aims to draw attention to these ongoing issues and mobilize global support for the Jumma people’s cause.

Photo by Binod Thapa @Create&Share