A Buddhist monastery and the homes of four Tanchangya indigenous families were attacked and vandalized in Chenchari village, Ward No. 7 of Jaliapalong Union, Ukhia Upazila, Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh, on the afternoon of July 31, according to local residents and Buddhist community organizations.
Local sources said the attack was carried out by a group of around 200 people allegedly led by local influential figure Nurul Haq. The incident is believed to be linked to an ongoing land ownership dispute.
Residents also alleged that some local officials have been involved in attempts to forcibly seize ancestral lands belonging to the Tanchangya community. They claimed that roads were being constructed and buildings erected on indigenous land without permission, but that the relevant authorities had yet to take effective action.
According to Tanchangya community leader Sardar Maung Chowdhury, forestry officials were present when the attack took place but did not intervene to stop the violence. He added that three Buddha statues inside the monastery were destroyed, while the homes of four Tanchangya families were also extensively damaged.
"We no longer feel safe. There is a constant fear that we could be attacked again at any time, and we are deeply concerned about the safety of our lives and property," Sardar Maung Chowdhury said.
The Ukhia–Teknaf Tanchangya Students' Council strongly condemned the incident. Its General Secretary, Nepal Chakma, described the attack on the Buddhist monastery as completely unacceptable and called on the authorities to immediately arrest those responsible, prosecute them under the law, and ensure the safety and security of the affected families.
Similarly, Kanon Barua Bishal, General Secretary of the Cox's Bazar District Buddhist Festival Celebration Council, stated that Cox's Bazar has long been known for its tradition of religious harmony, and that the attack represents a serious blow to that long-standing coexistence.
He also urged the authorities to take swift legal action against the perpetrators, guarantee protection for the victims, and implement effective measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Photo: Buddhists' News.
