LAMA, Bandarban — Tripura Families Attacked in Lama Bandarban after resisting what local Indigenous residents describe as an attempt to seize their land. The incident occurred in Naziram Tripura Para in Gajalia Union and left several villagers injured.
The victims are members of three Indigenous Tripura families from Naziram Tripura Para in Gajalia Union of Lama Upazila. According to the families, they have lived on and cultivated the disputed land for more than 20 years. The land is not only their source of livelihood but also part of their community’s history and identity.
According to the affected families, the conflict began when Md. Bazlur Rahman, a Bengali settler from the area, claimed ownership of the land and began construction activities on property that the Tripura families say they have occupied and cultivated for decades.
Community leaders, local representatives, and members of local government reportedly held several mediation meetings in an effort to resolve the dispute peacefully. The families say they presented documents supporting their ownership and long-term possession of the land. Despite these efforts, the dispute remained unresolved and tensions continued to grow.
The situation reportedly turned violent on June 21, 2026.
At approximately 3:00 p.m., members of the Tripura families attempted to stop construction work on the disputed land. According to the families, they were attacked by a group armed with sticks, machetes, knives, and other weapons.
Several villagers were injured. Among them was Shimon Tripura, who reportedly suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Lama Upazila Health Complex for treatment along with other victims.
The violence did not end there.
The families state that at around 6:00 p.m. the same day, a larger group of more than 30 people entered Naziram Tripura Para. Villagers allege that homes belonging to the affected families were targeted and that residents who attempted to intervene were also assaulted. The families further report that threats were made against them and their relatives before the attackers left the area.
For many readers outside the Chittagong Hill Tracts, this may appear to be a simple dispute over property. For Indigenous peoples of the CHT, however, such incidents carry a much deeper meaning.
Land conflicts in the Chittagong Hill Tracts cannot be separated from the region’s history. For decades, Indigenous communities have expressed concern over land loss, displacement, competing ownership claims, and the continuing impact of state-sponsored settlement policies. As a result, many Indigenous residents view incidents like the one in Naziram Tripura Para not as isolated disputes but as part of a broader struggle over land, identity, and survival.
For Indigenous peoples, land is far more than an economic asset. It is connected to family history, culture, community, and the ability to pass a way of life to future generations. When Indigenous families fear losing land, they fear losing part of their collective existence.
The attack in Naziram Tripura Para is therefore not only about one village or one disputed piece of land. It reflects a larger question that continues to confront Indigenous communities across the Chittagong Hill Tracts: can Indigenous peoples live securely on lands they have occupied and cultivated for generations?
As injured villagers recover from their wounds, many Indigenous residents see the incident as another reminder that the struggle for land rights and security in the Chittagong Hill Tracts remains far from over. The families involved are seeking justice, protection, and recognition of their rights, while the wider Indigenous community watches closely, knowing that the outcome of one land conflict often resonates far beyond a single village.