Army launches operation against UPDF in Chattogram hills

The operation has been launched at 4am Tuesday, a statement reads

The Bangladesh Army has launched an operation against the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where the group is primarily active.

The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said in a statement that the operation began early Tuesday in the remote hills of Rangamati district.

“An operation against the UPDF (main faction) began at 4am,” the statement read, without offering further details.

The move comes amid longstanding tensions between rival groups in the region over political dominance and control.

The UPDF was formed in June 1998 in opposition to the 1997 peace accord signed between the then-Awami League government and the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS). The agreement was intended to end decades of armed conflict in the hill region.

While some provisions of the accord were implemented, others have been delayed, leading to dissatisfaction among sections of the indigenous population.

The UPDF has drawn support from sections of disaffected hill youth since its formation.

Over the years, rivalries between UPDF and JSS factions have frequently turned violent, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Hundreds of members from both organisations have been killed in internal clashes, triggering fear over the region.

In 2010, a breakaway faction from the JSS (Santu Larma) formed the JSS (MN Larma). Similarly, in 2017, some leaders split from Prasit Khisa’s UPDF to launch a new faction called UPDF (Democratic).