Kuki-Chin National Front
AbbreviationKNF
PresidentNathan Bom
FounderNathan Bom
Founded2017 (2017)
HeadquartersChittagong Hill Tracts
Armed wingKuki-Chin National Army
IdeologyJumma nationalism
Bawm nationalism
Anti-Bengali sentiment
Separatism
Political positionFar-right
Slogan"Nehnak Chu Lalpa Ta"
Website
Kuki-Chin National Front - KNF Facebook[i]
^ i: 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,[1] is a banned ethno-nationalist and separatist political organization in Bangladesh based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Established by Nathan Bom in 2017, KNF aims to establish a separate autonomous state for Bawm people with nine upazilas of Rangamati and Bandarban district.[1][2] According to Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies, Kuki-Chin National Front has received weapons from the Kachin State of Myanmar,[3] and also has ties with Karen rebel.[4] Its armed wing is Kuki-Chin National Army.

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.[3] The Bawm community is mostly Christian and accuses the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti of discrimination.[3] The founding president of the Kuki-Chin National Front is Nathan Bom, a graduate of fine arts from the University of Dhaka.[3] 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.[3][1] The Kuki-Chin National Volunteers would become the Kuki-Chin National Front.[1] Vanchun Lian Master, a vice-principal of the government primary school, is the chief of staff of the Kuki-Chin National Front.[4]

In June 2022, the Kuki-Chin National Front attacked a camp of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti killing three in Belaichhari Upazila, Rangamati District.[5] 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.[6] In November 2022, Bangladesh Army launched a drive against Kuki-Chin National Front which saw 270 Kuki people seek refuge in Mizoram of India.[7][8]

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.[9] They also recovered AK-22 rifles among other weapons and bomb making equipment.[10] Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya paid 1.7 million to Kuki-Chin National Front for weapons.[11] By January 2023, 14 members of Kuki-Chin National Front were detained.[12]

Kuki-Chin National Army

Kuki-Chin National Army
LeaderNathan Bom
Chief of StaffVanchun Lian Master[4]
Foundation2017
Dates of operation2017 (2017) – Present (Present)
Country Bangladesh
AllegianceKuki-Chin National Front
MotivesThe creation of a separate Bawm state in the nine upazilas of Rangamati and Bandarban district
Active regionsChittagong Hill Tracts
StatusActive
SizeCouple of hundred
Means of revenueTerrorism, robbery
Allies
Opponents
Designated as a terrorist group by Bangladesh[13][14]

Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) is the armed wing of Kuki-Chin National Front.[15] It has provided training to Islamist Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya in Chittagong Hill Tracts.[3][16] It is believed the training was provided for monetary reasons.[17]

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.[18] A bullet hit body of Kuki-Chin National Army personnel was found Ruma Upazila on 30 January 2023 after a gunfight with security forces.[19] Another gunfight took place between Rapid Action Battalion and the Kuki-Chin National Army.[20] On 12 March, the Assam Rifles detained two members of the Kuki-Chin National Army in Mirozam.[21] 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.[22][23] A master warrant officer of Bangladesh Army, Nazim Uddin, in the ambush and two soldiers were injured.[22][24] The Kuki-Chin National Army kidnapped 12 workers constructing the Thanchi road and released some of them after getting their ransom.[22] It also kidnapped a retired sergeant of Bangladesh Army who was working as a contractor on road construction.[25] 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.[15]

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.[26]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "In Chattogram Hill Tracts, a new group of armed insurgents is making waves. Who are they?". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  2. ↑ "KNF: Where does it get its funding and what is its endgame?". Dhaka tribune.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Who are these Kuki-Chin armies in the CHT?". Dhaka Tribune. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  4. 1 2 3 "KNF disrupting tourism, development works in Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  5. ↑ "3 reportedly shot dead in CHT". The Daily Star. 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  6. ↑ "Tourists being sent back from Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  7. ↑ "KNF — A New Threat to Regional Security? | CGS". cgs-bd.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  8. ↑ "Why Did Bangladesh's Kuki Chin Flee to India's Northeast?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  9. ↑ Islam, Shariful; Marma, Mong Sing Hai (2023-02-08). "Bandarban's Thanchi: Rab arrests 17 militants after daylong gunfight". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  10. ↑ "Militants held in hills: Educated, yet they chose the wrong path". The Daily Star. 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  11. ↑ "Jama'atul Ansar financed Tk 17 lakh to buy heavy weapons: Rab". The Daily Star. 2022-11-04. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  12. ↑ "12 militants, 14 KNF members arrested so far in anti-militancy drive in Bandarban: Rab". The Business Standard. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  13. ↑ "Two army soldiers killed in Kuki-Chin terrorist attack in Bandarban: ISPR". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
  14. ↑ "Army man killed as Kuki-Chin separatists attack patrol in Bandarban". The Business Standard. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  15. 1 2 "8 killed in 'shootout' between 2 armed groups in Bandarban: police". The Daily Star. 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  16. ↑ Islam, Shariful (2023-01-31). "'Biggest militant threat' country has ever faced". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  17. ↑ "Kuki-Chin-Mizo". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  18. ↑ "Tourism banned again in Bandarban's Thanchi". Dhaka Tribune. 2023-01-09. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  19. ↑ "'KNF man' found shot dead in CHT". The Daily Star. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  20. ↑ "5 held over RAB-KNF gunfight in Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  21. ↑ "Mizoram: Two active Kuki Chin National Army cadres arrested by Assam Rifles in Lawgtlalai district". India Today NE. 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  22. 1 2 3 "Army man killed in Bandarban KNA attack". The Daily Star. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  23. ↑ "Army warrant officer killed, two injured as Kuki-Chin separatists open fire in Bandarban". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  24. ↑ "Situation in hills under control despite Sunday's 'isolated' incident: IGP". The Daily Star. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  25. ↑ "Retired army sergeant abducted by KNA". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  26. ↑ "Kuki-Chin National Army attack kills 2 Army men: ISPR". Prothom Alo. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
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