Kuki-Chin National Front

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Kuki-Chin National Front
AbbreviationKNF
Bengali sentiment
Anti-Chakma sentiment[a]
Autonomy demands
Slogan"Nehnak Chu Lalpa Ta"
Website
Kuki-Chin National Front - KNF Facebook[b]
^ a: [2][3][4][5]
^ b: KNF has no official website, but it maintains an official facebook page where it updates about its activities.

Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), also known as Bom Party or Bawm Party,

Bandarban districts.[7][6][8] The Front has an armed wing called Kuki-Chin National Army. According to Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies, Kuki-Chin National Front has received weapons from the Kachin State in Myanmar,[9] and also has ties with Karen rebels.[10]

History

Bandarban districts

Kuki-Chin National Front was established in 2017 by members of the Bawm people in Bangladesh with two thousand personnel.[9] The Bawm community is mostly Christian and accuses the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti of discrimination.[9] The founding president of the Kuki-Chin National Front is Nathan Bom, a graduate of fine arts from the University of Dhaka.[9] He was previously involved with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti's student wing, the Pahari Chhatra Parishad, and founded the Kuki-Chin National Development Organization in 2008 and renamed to Kuki-Chin National Volunteers.[9][6] The Kuki-Chin National Volunteers would become the Kuki-Chin National Front.[6] Vanchun Lian Master, a vice-principal of the government primary school, is the chief of staff of the Kuki-Chin National Front.[10]

In June 2022, the Kuki-Chin National Front attacked a camp of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti killing three in

Rangamati District.[11] In October, tourists were sent back from Bandarban District in preparation of an operation of Bangladesh Army and other security forces against Kuki-Chin National Front.[12] In November 2022, Bangladesh Army launched a drive against Kuki-Chin National Front which saw 270 Kuki people seek refuge in Mizoram of India.[13][14]

In February 2023, Rapid Action Battalion arrested 17 personnel of Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three members of Kuki-Chin National Front after a day long gunfight.[15] They also recovered AK-22 rifles among other weapons and bomb making equipment.[16] Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya paid 1.7 million to Kuki-Chin National Front for weapons.[17] By January 2023, 14 members of Kuki-Chin National Front were detained.[18]

On the night of 2 April 2024, some members of this group robbed the

Bangladesh government suspended the peace talks and combined forces of Bangladesh Army, RAB & Police declared full-scale operation to capture KNF insurgents. By 10 April 2024, 55 people allegedly associated with KNF were arrested by Bangladesh Police.[23]

Kuki-Chin National Army

Not to be confused with Kuki National Army.
Kuki-Chin National Army
LeaderNathan Bom
Chief of StaffVanchun Lian Master
Bandarban district [citation needed]
Active regionsChittagong Hill Tracts
StatusActive
SizeCouple of hundred
Means of revenuerobbery, arms training
Allies
Opponents
Designated as a terrorist group by Bangladesh[24][failed verification]

Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) is the armed wing of Kuki-Chin National Front.[25]

From 11 to 17 January 2023, the Bandarban District administration banned tourists in the district due a drive against Kuki-Chin National Army by security forces in the district.[26] A bullet hit body of Kuki-Chin National Army personnel was found Ruma Upazila on 30 January 2023 after a gunfight with security forces.[27] Another gunfight took place between Rapid Action Battalion and the Kuki-Chin National Army.[28] On 12 March, the Assam Rifles detained two members of the Kuki-Chin National Army in Mirozam.[29] In March 2023, Kuki-Chin National Army attacked a convoy of Bangladesh Army that was escorting medical convoy for expectant mothers in Chittagong Hill Tracts.[30][31] A master warrant officer of Bangladesh Army, Nazim Uddin, was killed in the ambush and two soldiers were injured.[30][32] The Kuki-Chin National Army kidnapped 12 workers constructing the Thanchi road and released some of them after getting their ransom.[30] It also kidnapped a retired sergeant of Bangladesh Army who was working as a contractor on road construction.[33] In April 2023, eight people were killed in a shootout between the United People's Democratic Front (Democratic), a fraction of the United People's Democratic Front, and Kuki-Chin National Army in Rowangchhari Upazila, Bandarban District.[25]

On 17 May 2023 two soldiers of the Bangladesh Army were killed and two officers were injured in Ruma upazila, Bandarban. The incident occurred as a result of an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) and unforeseen gunfire from the Kuki-Chin National Army.[34]

References

  1. ^ https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/iilgm9qd68
  2. ^ www.itvbd.com/analysis/141797
  3. ^ www.prothomalo.com/opinion/24trwm3k79
  4. ^ www.prothomalo.com/amp/story/opinion/bcmktr3
  5. ^ www.protidinersangbad.com/todays-newspaper/first-page/451105
  6. ^ a b c d "In Chattogram Hill Tracts, a new group of armed insurgents is making waves. Who are they?". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  7. ^ Akhter, Samina (23 November 2022). "Bangladesh countering separatism and militancy for ensuring peace and stability in the region". Modern Diplomacy. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  8. ^ "KNF: Where does it get its funding and what is its endgame?". Dhaka tribune.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Who are these Kuki-Chin armies in the CHT?". Dhaka Tribune. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "KNF disrupting tourism, development works in Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  11. ^ "3 reportedly shot dead in CHT". The Daily Star. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Tourists being sent back from Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  13. ^ "KNF — A New Threat to Regional Security? | CGS". cgs-bd.com. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Why Did Bangladesh's Kuki Chin Flee to India's Northeast?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  15. ^ Islam, Shariful; Marma, Mong Sing Hai (8 February 2023). "Bandarban's Thanchi: Rab arrests 17 militants after daylong gunfight". The Daily Star. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Militants held in hills: Educated, yet they chose the wrong path". The Daily Star. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Jama'atul Ansar financed Tk 17 lakh to buy heavy weapons: Rab". The Daily Star. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  18. ^ "12 militants, 14 KNF members arrested so far in anti-militancy drive in Bandarban: Rab". The Business Standard. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  19. ^ "সোনালি ব্যাংকে ডাকাতি" (in Bengali).
  20. ^ "ব্যাংক ডাকাতি" (in Bengali).
  21. ^ "পাহাড় জনপদে আতঙ্কের ঢেউ". Bhorer Kagoj (in Bengali). 5 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  22. ^ Sakib, Musanna (5 April 2024). "ব্যাংক ম্যানেজারকে ছাড়তে ২০ লাখ টাকা মুক্তিপণ চায় কুকি-চিন: র‍্যাব". Arthosuchak (in Bengali). Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  23. ^ https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/343816/knf-associate-held-in-bandarban
  24. ^ "Two army soldiers killed in Kuki-Chin terrorist attack in Bandarban: ISPR". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
  25. ^ a b "8 killed in 'shootout' between 2 armed groups in Bandarban: police". The Daily Star. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Tourism banned again in Bandarban's Thanchi". Dhaka Tribune. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  27. ^ "'KNF man' found shot dead in CHT". The Daily Star. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  28. ^ "5 held over RAB-KNF gunfight in Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  29. ^ "Mizoram: Two active Kuki Chin National Army cadres arrested by Assam Rifles in Lawgtlalai district". India Today NE. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  30. ^ a b c "Army man killed in Bandarban KNA attack". The Daily Star. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Army warrant officer killed, two injured as Kuki-Chin separatists open fire in Bandarban". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  32. ^ "Situation in hills under control despite Sunday's 'isolated' incident: IGP". The Daily Star. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  33. ^ "Retired army sergeant abducted by KNA". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  34. ^ "Kuki-Chin National Army attack kills 2 Army men: ISPR". Prothom Alo. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
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