Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) carried out a series of brazen attacks within 17 hours in the remote hilly districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban. Their actions, which included robbing three banks, kidnapping a bank manager, and engaging in armed confrontations with law enforcement officers, have raised concerns about a resurgence of terrorist activities in the region and engaged in patronizing Islamic outfits.
The KNA is the armed wing of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), a banned armed group based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) that seeks independence for the hill area. Last year, the KNA gained notoriety after two Bangladeshi Army soldiers were killed in attacks attributed to the group in Bandarban.
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Reports covered that the KNF is involved in training militants in exchange for financial compensation. In October 2022, law enforcement agencies uncovered that the KNF was providing training to members of a new militant group called Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya.
The rugged terrain of the CHT region, with its dense forests and numerous mountains, provides an ideal environment for various armed and separatist groups to operate. According to media reports, it is estimated that around 4,000 trained KNA members are currently active, residing both inside and outside the country.
How the Attacks Unfolded
On Tuesday night, armed individuals believed to be members of the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) carried out a series of attacks in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila. They assaulted officials and security guards at the upazila administration building and Sonali Bank branch, kidnapping the bank manager Nizam Uddin, who was later rescued on Thursday.
Didarul Alam, assistant commissioner (land) of Ruma Upazila, said, “Around 8:30 pm last night, a group of 70-80 individuals entered the mosque within the Upazila Complex boundary and shut the door. Many officials were attending Taraweeh prayers.
“Initially, the assailants held everyone captive, subjected them to severe beatings, and robbed them of money and mobile phones. Subsequently, they forcefully took the bank manager hostage at gunpoint and escorted him to the bank. “It is believed that the manager was kidnapped because he was unable to unlock the bank’s safe,” he added.
The attackers meticulously planned the operation, taking advantage of power outages during prayer times when the upazila complex was less crowded. Although unsuccessful in looting Sonali Bank, they seized firearms and ammunition from law enforcement personnel.
The armed group also attacked two other bank branches in Ruma and Thanchi Upazilas on Wednesday. Over 100 KNF members were reportedly involved in Ruma, while 20-25 assailants struck in Thanchi.
Later on Thursday night, the assailants attacked a police and army joint checkpoint in Alikadam upazila, engaging in a brief exchange of fire before retreating. No security personnel were injured.
The government acknowledged the KNF’s alleged involvement and vowed to address the situation comprehensively, with security operations ongoing in the affected areas.
The Motives
Khandker Al Moin, director of the Legal and Media Wing of RAB, said that there are two possible motives of the criminals behind the armed bank robberies and looting in the past few days in Bandarban. First, looting money and confiscating weapons. Second, demonstrate competence.
“The KNF wants to show its supporters and rival armed groups that they are a powerful armed group. They were given a chance to return to normal life.
‘Joint Operation’
Bangladeshi security forces and law enforcement agencies including the Army, police, BGB, and RAB launched a joint operation on 5 April in the affected areas, RAB officials said in a press briefing at around 11:00 am in the District Council auditorium.
As a result, the Rapid Action Battalion rescued the abducted bank manager on Thursday night and took him to his family on Friday morning.
However, Minister for Homes Asaduzzaman Khan has announced a crackdown on the Kuki-Chin National Front or KNF, blaming the separatist tribal group for the daring bank robberies in Bandarban for two consecutive days.
He asked authorities at a media briefing at the Secretariat on Thursday to investigate whether there is any other purpose behind the heists.
“Those who attacked the banks, looted money, took away weapons, and abducted a bank official will be brought to book,” he said.
The operation will continue till the KNF are eliminated in the district, Khandker Al Moin, director of the Legal and Media Wing of RAB, said at a briefing.
Peace-talks suspended
In response to the attacks, the government-initiated ‘committee to establish peace’ has announced the suspension of all dialogue with the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF). The committee members made this announcement during a press briefing on Thursday, stating that if the KNF fails to release the abducted bank manager, return the stolen money and arms, and create an environment for normalcy, the ‘committee to establish peace’ may be dissolved.
The convenor of the committee, Kya Shai Hla Marma, who is also the zila parishad chairman, strongly condemned the KNF’s actions, including bank looting, abductions, and other criminal activities, during the media briefing.
The ‘committee to establish peace’ was formed in 2013, aiming to rehabilitate KNF members back into normal life. The KNF has held several meetings with the committee, both online and in person, during which two MOUs were signed, committing the KNF to stop criminal activities such as extortion, abduction, and looting.
Who are the Kuki-Chin National Army?
The Kuki-Chin National Army is the armed wing of the KNF, a separatist group seeking an independent state in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, which includes parts of Bandarban and Rangamati districts. The KNF, founded by Nathan Bom, initially emerged as a non-profit organization but has since evolved into a so-called separatist movement since 2017.
The Kuki-Chin people belong to the same ethnic group, with different names residing in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India along the border regions. The KNF comprises six members of the Kuki-Chin ethnic group: the Bom, Pangkhua, Lusai, Khumi, Mro, and Khiang.
Security analysts speculate that the armed group’s attacks in Bandarban may have international connections, suggesting the risk of arms and fuel supply from across the border. They urge security forces to remain vigilant and prevent the KNF from receiving external support, while also emphasizing the need for improved investigative measures.
