Kuki-Chin_National_Front

Kuki-Chin National Front

Kuki-Chin National Front

Separatist organisation in Bangladesh

Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), also known as Bom Party or Bawm Party,[6] is a banned ethno-nationalist arms militant political organization in Bangladesh based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Established by Nathan Bom in 2017, KNF aims to establish a separate autonomous or independent state for Bawm, Pangkhua, Lushai, Khumi, Mru & Khiang peoples with nine subdistricts (upazilas) of Rangamati and 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]

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History

The red-colured areas in this map of the Chittagong Hill Tracts indicate to the proposed Kuki-Chin State. Most of the territories demanded by KNF fall under Rangamati and 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 Belaichhari Upazila, 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 Sonali Bank branch in Ruma upazila[19] and looted about one and a half crore taka. The next day at noon again attempted to rob two branches of Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank in Thanchi Upazila. Apart from the bank robbery incident, the attackers kidnapped the manager of Sonali Bank, looted around 14 weapons of Ansar and police forces.[20][21] Later, the manager was released in exchange for a ransom of Tk 2 million.[22] After this incident, 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.
Quick Facts Leader, Chief of Staff ...

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

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    "Kuki-Chin National Army attack kills 2 Army men: ISPR". Prothom Alo. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
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