Operation Uttaran

Not to be confused with Operation Dabanal.

Operation Uttaran (Bengali: অপারেশন উত্তরণ, lit. 'Operation Upliftment') is a counterinsurgency military operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, the operation has been ongoing since September 2001.^{[23][24][25][4][26]} It replaced Operation Dabanal.^{[27][28][29][4][24][30]}

Operation Uttaran
Part of Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict
Date September 2001—present Location Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh Status Ongoing[1] Bangladeshi military victory[2][3] Bangladesh Armed Forces gains control over key strongholds and de facto military rule is established over the Chittagong Hill Tracts[4][5][6][7]
Belligerents
Government of Bangladesh Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board[4] Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Rangamati Hill District Council Khagrachhari Hill District Council Bandarban Hill District Council Bengali Muslim settlers	Insurgents: Kuki-Chin National Front Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (MN Larma) United People's Democratic Front United People's Democratic Front (Democratic) Military support: National United Party of Arakan[8] United Liberation Front of Asom (2009—2016)[8] Marma Liberation Party[9] Arakan-Rohingya Solidarity Organization[8] Democratic Party of Arakan[8] Arakan Rohingya Islamic Front[8] Arakan Army[8] People's Party of Arakan[8] Arakan Liberation Party[8] Logistical support: India[10] Myanmar[11]
Commanders and leaders
Muhammad Yunus Waker-uz-Zaman Previously: Latifur Rahman Khaleda Zia Iajuddin Ahmed Fakhruddin Ahmed Sheikh Hasina Mohammed Harun-Ar-Rashid Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury Moeen Uddin Ahmed Md Abdul Mubeen Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan Belal Shafiul Huq Azizur Ahmed SM Shafiuddin Ahmed	Shantu Larma[12] Tatindra Lal Marma Bimal Kanti Chakma Nagendra Chakma Tridib Chakma Mangal Chakma Sadhon Chakma † Kalomoy Chakma † Mohan Tripura † Unumang Royel † Chakma Jeevesh † Tazim Chakma † Prasit Bikash Khisa Tapan Jyoti Chakma † Anoti Ranjan Chakma † Anol Bikash Chakma † Mithun Chakma † Notun Moni Chakma † Jhony Tanchangya † Sunil Bikash Chakma † Junel Chakma † Miton Chakma † Shantimoy Chakma † Nirmal Chakma † Jiban Tripura † Janang Chakma † Niran Chakma Rabi Chakma Angya Marma Sree Ubamong Marma Sajib Chakma Nathan Bom Cheosim Bom
Units involved
Bangladesh Armed Forces  Bangladesh Army Directorate General of Forces Intelligence 24th Infantry Division Border Guard Bangladesh Bangladesh Ansar[13] Bangladesh Police Armed Police Battalion Rapid Action Battalion Special Branch  Bangladesh Navy  Bangladesh Air Force National Security Intelligence	Shanti Bahini UPDF KNA
Strength
: 80,000[14] : 25,000 : 8,000 : 1,500	: 15,000 (initial phase)[10]
Casualties and losses
: 170—200 killed or injured[15] : 96 killed or injured[15] : 64 killed[15] : 10 killed[15]	: 2,000 casualties (killed, wounded or captured)[16][17] : 358 killed (initial phase)[16] : Several killed[18][19][20] 50—70 captured or arrested (2022—2024)[21][18][19][20]
3,500–25,000 civilians killed (initial phase)[10] 70,000 externally displaced (initial phase)[10][22] 100,000 internally displaced[22]

Background

Main article: Operation Dabanal

Shanti Bahini militants in Khagrachhari in 1994

Between 1976 and 1978, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board was established with several programmes and deployments and a conflict occurred in the Chittagong Hill Tracts between Bangladeshi security forces and insurgent groups from 1977 to 1997,^[31][32] which resulted in thousands of deaths and arrests and displacements until the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997,^[33] leading to the end of Operation Dabanal which was launched by the Bangladesh Armed Forces, however the accord was not fully implemented leading to tensions between insurgents and the Bangladeshi administration.^{[10][34][35][4][24][26]}

History

Operation Uttaran was launched by the caretaker government of Bangladesh in September 2001,^{[26][24][33][36][4]} After the BNP—Jamaat alliance came to power in October 2001 after a victory in the 2001 Bangladeshi general election, Bangladeshi security forces expanded its military operation and raids under its jurisdiction against insurgents in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Operation Uttaran came into effect.^{[4][24][37][29][7]} At least one-third of total personnel of the Bangladesh Army were deployed to Operation Uttaran.^[14] Operation Uttaran replaced Operation Dabanal and the Bangladeshi administration established de facto military rule in the Chittagong Hill Tracts via Operation Uttaran.^{[25][38][23][39][40][4][24][26]}

Administration

See also: Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board

Under the jurisdiction of Operation Uttaran, Bangladesh Army received 10,000 tons of rice which was used to develop settler villages for Bengali Muslims in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.^[41] After the operation was launched, the military maintained control over local resources, education, judiciary and civil administration.^{[25][36][33][28][31][4][7]} Operation Uttaran allowed the Bangladeshi military and paramilitary to intervene in civil society and political matters in the Chittagong hill tracts.^{[7][42][43][4][24][26]}

Governance

After the establishment of CHTDB, the local administration and military have carried out educational and welfarist campaigns in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Government of Bangladesh was praised for its pro-development programmes.^[31]

Jurisdiction

Development programmes and raids in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are often under the jurisdiction of Operation Uttaran.^[44][45][46]

Deployment

The Bangladesh Armed Forces was deployed to Operation Uttaran and operations and raids under the jurisdiction of Operation Uttaran began and members of law enforcement and paramilitary organizations were also deployed, the 24th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Police and 16 battalions of the Bangladesh Ansar are particularly important in the operation but other security organizations and branches especially RAB, NSI, DGFI, SB were also deployed to the Chittagong Hill Tracts.^{[47][26][42][43][48]}

Events

Main article: Military history of Bangladesh

• September 2001 — the then caretaker government of Bangladesh launched Operation Uttaran^[33][49]
• October 2001 — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh after a victory in the 2001 Bangladeshi general election, forms a government, and supports Operation Uttaran and as a result, Operation Uttaran comes into effect resulting in massive deployment of troops to the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[29]
• November 2001 — Clashes occurred between Bengali Muslims and natives in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and several villages are burnt down and attacked^[7]
• 2002 — Bangladesh Army and security forces cracked down on militants in the Chittagong Hill Tracts however incidents of rape and crime continued and hundreds of militants are killed or injured in conflict from 1998 to 2002^[50]
  • September 2002 — Bangladesh Army arrests militants in Baghmara Union, Roangchari Thana, Baghicharapara, Amtoli, Saopara^[36]
  • November 2002 — Bangladesh Army cracked down on alleged militant hideouts in Khagrachhari^[50]
• August 2003 — More than 350 houses in dozens of villages in the Chittagong Hill Tracts housing indigenous Jummas were burnt down and attacked and several individuals are killed and 10 women are also raped in those attacks^[26][51]
• 2004—November 2005 — Bangladesh Army and security forces seized 58,000 rounds of ammunition and hundreds of weapons in Bandarban as conflict escalated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[46]
  • 2004 — Foreign militants from Arakan, Myanmar, abducted a retired Bangladesh Army member and farmer and Bangladesh Police and Bangladesh Army eventually cracked down on militants^[27]
    • May 2004 — 50 individuals including activists and militants are arrested in Khagrachhari District by Bangladesh Police^[26]
  • 2005 — Tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts continue with attacks by militants and crackdowns by Bangladeshi security forces on militant groups
    • April 2005 — Militants abducted Bengali workers in Roangchari, Chittagong Hill Tracts^[27]
    • May 2005 — Bangladesh Army launches raids in Bandarban^[27]
• 2006 — Clashes occurred in Naniarchar between the Bangladesh Army and Shanti Bahini in which Bangladesh Army members were killed^[15]
• 1997—2007 — More than 500 individuals including militants and civilians were killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[52]
• 2008—2013 — Bangladeshi security forces captured hundreds of firearms and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and clashes also occur in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[11]
  • February 2010 — Clashes occurred between Bengalis and natives in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and many individuals were killed^[53]
  • May 2011 — UPDF militants were gunned down and killed in Rangamati^[53]
  • September 2012 — Clashes occurred between natives and Bengalis in Rangamati, several institutions were vandalized or burned down including Shevron Diagnostic Center^[54]
  • 2013 — Dozens of individuals were killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and PCJSS, PCJSS (MNL), UPDF commanders were assassinated and clashes occurred between Bengalis and tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[11][49]
• 2014—2019 — More than 400 individuals including hundreds of militants and civilians in the Chittagong Hill Tracts were killed and many were abducted or arrested and 86 incidents of rape occurred in the Hill Tracts^[55][56][16]
  • 2014—2015 — Hundreds of individuals including civilians and militants are killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[56]
  • 2016 — 41 individuals including 23 natives and militants and civilians were killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[57]
  • 2017 — 33 individuals in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are killed including UPDF commanders and militants who were gunned down in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[57]
  • 2018 — 68 individuals are killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts including militant commanders and others
    • January—February 2018 — 3 UPDF commanders were gunned down in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[57]
    • March—April 2018 — 5 UPDF militant commanders, 2 PCJSS (MNL) commanders and 2 civilians were gunned down in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[57]
    • May 2018 — The president of UPDF (Democratic), Tapan Jyoti Chakma and leaders of UPDF affiliate organizations were gunned down in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and almost a dozen UPDF commanders were killed nearby and the chairman of Naniarchar Upazila, Shaktimaan Chakma was also killed^[57]
  • 2019 — More than 56 individuals were killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts including militants^[56]
    • January 2019 — Gunfire occurred in Ramgarh, Khagrachhari which resulted in the assassination of a PCJSS-MN Larma commander, Mohan Tripura, in Jagannathpara, Ramgarh, Khagrachhari^[58]
    • February 2019 — Gunfire occurred in Kaptai, Rangamati, which resulted in the assassination of PCJSS members and others^[59]
    • March 2019 — Shanti Bahini launched an attack on the Bangladesh Police and government, several Bangladeshi security officials and government officials were killed and 16 were injured in the ambush^[15]
    • August 2019 — Clashes occurred between the Bangladesh Army and UPDF in Dighinala, Khagrachhari and the clashes led to UPDF militants being killed and the Bangladesh Army launched raids in the area and seized 2 pistols and a few pieces of American equipment with ammunition, and clashes also occurred between the Bangladesh Army and UPDF in Rangamati and the Bangladesh Army assassinated a UPDF commander known as Shantimoy Chakma in retaliation and ambushes also occurred which killed and injured Bangladesh Army personnel, UPDF militants and a few Bangladeshi troops were gunned down in the incident^[15][60]
    • November 2019 — Gunfire occurred in Rangamati where at least 3 people were gunned down, PCJSS was accused of violence but PCJSS denied the claims and accused the Marma Liberation Party, which is also known as Mog Party, of violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[61]
• January 2020 — Clashes occurred in Longodu and several PCJSS members were killed^[62]
• March—June 2020 — Incidents of illegal occupation of land and disputes occurred in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Bangladesh Army cracked down on UPDF and PCJSS arms suppliers in Rangamati^[63][64]
• July 2020 — PCJSS held protests in Khagrachhari after almost a dozen PCJSS militants were killed in Bandarban^[65]
• October 2020 — The Bangladesh Army and UPDF clashed in Rangamati and many UPDF militants were killed and 1 Bangladesh Army member was injured in the incident^[66]
• December 2020 — Clashes occurred between Bangladeshi security forces and PCJSS militants in Rangamati which resulted in the assassination of PCJSS militants^[67]
• 2021 — Clashes occurred between Bengalis and natives in the Khagrachhari, Chittagong Hill Tracts and rapes and assassinations were reported,^[63] and several PCJSS leaders were gunned down in Rangamati^[68]
• December 2021 — Clashes occurred in Rangamati which resulted in the assassination of a PCJSS militant commander and a UPDF militant^[69]
• February 2022 — Clashes occurred between the Bangladesh Army and PCJSS in Bandarban, several PCJSS militants were killed and Bangladesh Army officers were also killed in the incident^[70][71]
• March 2022 — Gunfire occurred in Bandarban which resulted in the assassination of a key PCJSS commander, Unumang Royel, the chief collector of PCJSS (MNL)^[72]
• June 2022—September 2022 — Clashes occurred in Dighinala, Khagrachhari which resulted in assassinations of several PCJSS and UPDF leaders^[73]
• November 2022 — Gunfire occurred in Bandarban and 1 DGFI officer was killed and 1 RAB officer was injured in the incident^[74]
• February 2023 — Numerous battles and incidents of gunfire results in 25 deaths and crime incidents results in 23 rapes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts,^[16] RAB also arrested 17 radical Islamic militants of Jamaatul Ansar and several KNF members in Bandarban,^[75] and the Bangladesh Army cracked down on MLP/MNP militants and arrested 5 militants of Marma Liberation Party and seized weapons in Khagrachhari^[9]
• March 2023 — According to reports, a few officers of the Bangladesh Army were killed and army personnel were injured in Bandarban, the incident occurred as a result of gunfire from the Kuki-Chin National Army^[76]
• May 2023 — Two Bangladesh army personnel were killed as a result of explosions of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and gunfire from the Kuki-Chin National Army in Bandarban^[76]
• July 2023 — Bangladesh Army and UPDF clashed in Rangamati and a few UPDF militants surrendered and Bangladesh Army seized weapons and German-made equipment^[77]
• December 2023 — Battles and gunfire occurred in Khagrachhari resulting in the assassinations of almost a dozen UPDF commanders and attacks on local BNP and AL members occur, UPDF launches local boycott campaigns and attacks and Bangladeshi security forces eventually cracks down on local militants and UPDF militant hideouts^[78][16]
• January 2024 — Gunfire and 2 battles occur in Khagrachhari resulting in the deaths of at least 8 individuals and UPDF members^[16]
• February 2024 — Gunfire and battles occur in Rangamati, resulting in the deaths of several UPDF members and commanders^[16]
• April 2024 — Battles occur between Bangladesh Army and KNF in Bandarban, and at least 2 KNF militants are killed after KNF militants robbed 2 banks and kidnapped individuals and looted arms of Ansar and Police and law enforcement arrested 55 KNF militants including KNF commanders^[21][20][79]
• May 2024 — Bangladesh Army kills KNF militants in Bandarban^[19]
• July 2024 — Gunfire occurred in Dighinala, Khagrachhari and one UPDF commander known as Junel Chakma, was killed^[80]
• August—December 2024 — According to the Bangladesh Hindu—Buddhist—Christian Unity Council, at least 174 incidents of communal violence occurred in the Chittagong Hill Tracts where 23 were killed, 9 women were raped, 64 places of worship were vandalized, 38 businesses and homes were vandalized and attacked and 25 incidents of land grabbing occurred and at least 804 sub-inspectors were dismissed and 227 individuals were excluded from Bangladesh Civil Service and more attacks on ethnic minorities occurred and numerous natives were expelled from jobs or service^[81]
  • September 2024 — Clashes occur between locals and Bengali settlers as well as law enforcement and at least 4 are killed in those clashes in Khagrachhari and Rangamati,^[82] Jumma youths also clashed with Bengali settlers in Rangamati in the following days and eventually the government imposed Section 144^[82]
  • October 2024 — Clashes occur between Bengalis and Jummas in Khagrachhari resulting in attacks on businesses, homes and teachers which later resulted in the government banning unauthorised rallies in the area at 1 October 2024,^[82] and many UPDF commanders were gunned down in Latiban Union, Panchhari^[78]
  • November 2024 — Battles occur between Bangladesh Army and KNF militants in Bandarban, at least 3 KNF militants are killed,^[18] Border Guard Bangladesh also launched raids on KNF hideouts and seized arms and ammunition in Bandarban,^[83] and battles occurred in Panchhari which resulted in the assassination of 1 UPDF commander who was known as Miton Chakma, an organizer of UPDF^[78]
  • December 2024 — 17 homes of Christians in Bandarban are burnt down and attacked^[82]
• 2025 — Bangladeshi security forces continue raids and crackdowns under the jurisdiction of Operation Uttaran against KNF and UPDF militants in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[84][85]
  • January 2025 — Bangladesh Army arrested numerous KNF militants in Bandarban,^[86] and killed UPDF militants in raids in Rangamati^[84]
  • February 2025 — Law enforcement arrests individuals in Lama, Bandarban and launched raids to rescue 26 abducted workers^[82][87]
  • March 2025 — The Bangladesh Army raided UPDF strongholds in Rangamati and seized weapons,^[88] and clashes also occurred in Rangamati and Khagrachhari leading to the assassination of Nirmal Chakma, a key commander of UPDF and a civilian was also killed^[89][90]
  • April 2025 — Bangladesh Army launches raids in Khagrachhari against UPDF militants and captured weapons and targeted militant hideouts,^[91] and the Bangladesh Army also launched a cleanliness drive with volunteers and students in Bandarban as part of development programmes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts^[92]
  • May 2025 — Bangladesh Police seized 20,000 uniforms and pieces of equipment of KNF and arrested KNF members,^[93] and the Bangladesh Army launched raids against UPDF militants in Laxmichari, Khagrachhari and raids resulted in UPDF casualties and capture of arms and ammunition^[94]
  • June 2025 — Bangladesh Army arrested UPDF militants in Khagrachhari and captured arms supplied by Myanmar,^[95] and the Bangladesh Army also launched raids in Rangamati and arrested UPDF militants and also seized weapons,^[96] and the Bangladesh Army launched raids in Bandarban and targeted PCJSS-UPDF militant hideouts and arrested UPDF militants,^[97][98] and skirmishes also occurred in Baghaichhari which resulted in the assassination of UPDF members^[99]
  • July 2025 — Bangladesh Army launched raids in Ruma, Bandarban against the Kuki-Chin National Army, the military wing of KNF, and the army killed several top KNA commanders and seized equipment,^[85] and a battle occurred between the Border Guard Bangladesh and UPDF in Matiranga, Khagrachhari, in which BGB later launched raids and captured 2 rifles, 1 pistol, 1 shotgun and 16 rounds of ammunition^[100]

Medals

Main article: Awards and decorations of the Bangladesh Armed Forces

Uttaran Padak is the medal provided by the government of Bangladesh for members of Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladeshi security forces who played an important role in Operation Uttaran against militants in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.^{[101][102][103][104]}