Agartala: A group of Chakma community members from the northeast has urged the Centre to stop fuel and power supplies to Bangladesh. Their demand comes after Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reportedly refused to visit India until Sheikh Hasina and others accused in the murder of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi are extradited.The demand was raised by Rasik Mohan Chakma, an MLA from Mizoram’s Tuichawng and member of the Chakma Autonomous District Council; Tripura University professor Gautam Chakma, who is also president of the Humanity Protection Forum; Pritimoy Chakma of the Chakma-Hajong Elders’ Forum in Arunachal Pradesh; and Suhas Chakma, founder of the Chakma Development Foundation of India.The group claimed that India supplied more than 30,000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh in March and April despite disruptions caused by the conflict in West Asia. The group also called for supplies through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline to be stopped.The pipeline’s annual capacity and the quantity currently supplied to Bangladesh require independent confirmation.Gautam Chakma also called for suspension of electricity exports from Godda thermal plant in Jharkhand to Bangladesh. He cited India’s domestic energy requirements and referred to production targets reportedly set for liquefied petroleum gas on Aug 16.The group described the conditions reportedly set for Rahman’s visit to India as “disrespectful”. There was no immediate response from the Bangladesh govt to the remarks.The group also invoked the history of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, saying the region’s indigenous residents had raised the Indian flag at Rangamati on Aug 15, 1947. The Chakma community members alleged that indigenous communities in the region continue to face persecution and violence.The group further called for revisiting the Partition-era decision under which the Chittagong Hill Tracts became part of Pakistan and subsequently Bangladesh. The demand concerns Bangladesh’s sovereignty and does not represent the stated position of the Indian govt.
