Four arrested over Lama village arson, including three Christians
LAMA CORRESPONDENT
Police have arrested four individuals, including three men from the Christian Tripura community and a Bengali worker, in connection with an arson attack in Tongjiri village under Lama upazila in Bandarban, police said on Thursday.
The suspects, identified as Stephen Tripura (50), Masainia Tripura (44), Joachim Tripura (52), and Ibrahim (65), a worker at former police chief Benazir Ahmed’s estate, confessed to involvement in the fire, said Superintendent of Police Md. Shahidullah Kawsar.
The arson, which destroyed 16 homes late Tuesday, occurred while villagers attended a church service. Authorities are investigating whether the attack is linked to local disputes or broader conspiracies with domestic or international dimensions.
Investigations revealed the settlers in the newly formed “Naya Para” village, established on Benazir Ahmed’s disputed 100-acre property, are members of the Christian Tripura community. Internal conflicts over land division among the settlers led to the formation of two opposing factions.
Earlier this month, Gungamani Tripura, a local resident, filed an extortion complaint at Lama Police Station against five men from the community. He alleged they demanded Tk 500 thousand and threatened arson if the demand was not met. The accused reportedly possessed homemade firearms and sharp weapons.
Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shah Mozahid Uddin and Superintendent Kawsar visited the site on Thursday to assess the damage and ongoing tensions.
Local residents expressed frustration over media coverage that portrayed the incident as communal violence, accusing outlets of spreading anti-Bangladesh narratives.
The settlement in Tongjiri was reportedly established just 2-3 months ago after Benazir’s estate workers went into hiding following the collapse of the fascist Awami League government. Residents claim opportunistic settlers took advantage of the situation to encroach on the property.
Md Idris Company, chairman of Sarai Union Parishad, confirmed that the settlers began constructing jhum houses on the disputed land under the banner of “Naya Para.” He noted disputes over land allocation had escalated into conflicts within the community.
Several locals suspect the arson may be part of a deliberate effort to destabilise the Chittagong Hill Tracts and damage the government’s standing on the international stage.
While international media reports have framed the attack as a communal incident, local authorities believe it stemmed from internal disputes within the Christian Tripura community.
