316 killed in CHT armed group attacks in 5 years: Home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told Parliament on Wednesday that 316 people, including 308 civilians and eight members of the security forces, were killed in attacks by armed groups in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) over the past five years.
During the period, 490 people, including 435 civilians and 55 security personnel, were injured, while armed groups carried out 97 attacks on security forces, he said.
The minister was replying, on behalf of the prime minister, to a question from Manikganj-1 MP SA Jinnah Kabir during the question-answer session.
The MP had sought details of attacks, abductions, forced extortion and the use of illegal firearms by armed groups in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, as well as attacks on members of the Bangladesh Army and other law enforcement agencies.
According to the minister, armed groups carried out 194 attacks on Bengali communities and 81 on people from different ethnic communities in the three hill districts over the five years. They were also responsible for 297 abductions, 471 cases of forced extortion and 377 incidents involving illegal firearms, he said.
Outlining the government’s efforts to restore peace and maintain law and order, the minister said a special military operation was continuing to suppress armed groups. 
The Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and other security agencies have stepped up regular patrols and intelligence activities to prevent criminal operations, he added.
The government has adopted a strict policy against armed individuals, extortionists and terrorists in the hills, with cases filed under existing laws and the accused brought to justice, he said.
He said coordinated special operations by the Army, BGB, police and other agencies were regularly conducted to dismantle both newly emerged and established armed groups and recover illegal weapons.
Intelligence-based operations are also being carried out in remote hilly areas to destroy the groups’ hideouts and training camps, with helicopter support from the Bangladesh Air Force used when necessary, he said.