A fire engulfed the houses of 17 Christian families of the Tripura ethnic group in the area of Sarai Tangojhiri, in the upazila lama of Bandarban, in southeastern Bangladesh, late in the evening of 24 December.
The villagers claim that the fire was an act of arson, possibly related to extortion demands made earlier by some thugs. The tragic incident occurred in the Notun Betchhara Tripura neighbourhood, while the villagers had gone to attend Christmas celebrations at a nearby church in the Tangojhiri area, as their neighbourhood does not have its own church. When they returned, they discovered their houses reduced to ashes. The fire destroyed all their belongings, including furniture, solar panels, household utensils, clothes and important documents. The displaced families were left homeless and took shelter under the open sky in the charred remains of their neighbourhood.
Villagers reported seeing the flames around 1 a.m., but could not identify the perpetrators, as the neighbourhood was uninhabited at the time. Of the 18 families residing in the area, only one house was spared from the flames, as its occupants were present and able to deter the attackers. Residents claim that this attack is part of a long-standing pattern of oppression against the indigenous hill communities in the three hill districts. Influential groups are often involved in these incidents, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. The victims demand justice and immediate support to rebuild their lives.