RAB arrests 'chief coordinator' of KNF

The Rapid Action Battalion has arrested a member of the Kuki-Chin National Front, also known as the Bawm Party, from his home in Bandarban following attacks on three banks by armed men linked to the group, reports bdnews24.com.
The RAB described detainee Cheusim Bawm as the 'chief coordinator' of the group. He was arrested from his home in Saron Para in Suwalok Union in Bandarban Sadar Upazila on Sunday.
Speaking at the District Council Auditorium at 3:30pm, RAB-15 Commander HM Sajjad Hossain said, "Cheusim Bawm was found inside an iron locker at his home. He was hiding there. It was locked from the outside. We broke the lock and brought him out."
Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed said on Sunday law enforcers apprehended 'criminals' and recovered weapons in raids on the hill districts.
"Everyone is working to their fullest to dispel public anxiety," he told the media during a visit to Bandarban following the robberies, kidnapping, and gunfire in Bandarban's Ruma and Thanchi Upazilas two days ago.
"We are doing all we can. You may have heard that our law enforcers succeeded in apprehending a few criminals last night (Saturday night) and some weapons have been recovered."
Ahmed lamented that the government had 'trusted' the Kuki-Chin National Front, aka the Bawm Party, during peace talks while they had 'conspired' internally.
Still, the Bangladesh Army is 'fully capable' of dealing with the new situation in the hill region due to the KNF's activity in the past few days, he said.
"At the beginning, we trusted them a bit. We thought that, as peace negotiations were ongoing and had not ended, things would remain peaceful. But they created this unrest in the middle of [these talks]."
"The necessary steps are being taken. Inshallah, the people will have peace once again and they will see that there is no place for criminals in Bangladesh."
The KNF, an armed group operating in and around Bandarban's Ruma Upazila, emerged around early 2022. Though the membership was to include members of the Bawm, Pankho, Lusai, Khyang, and Mro ethnic minorities, the majority were from the Bawm community. As a result, they came to be known in the hill areas as the 'Bawm Party'.
The KNF says it wants to form a 'Kuki-Chin state' composed of nine Upazilas including Baghaichhari, Barkal, Juraichhari and Bilaichhari from the Rangamati District and Roangchhari, Ruma, Thanchi, Lama, and Alikadam from the Bandarban District.
In 2022, RAB reported that the armed organisation was providing military training to members of the new militant group Jamaatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqqiya in exchange for money.
On Mar 30, 2023, a peace establishment committee consisting of members of various ethnic groups was formed after law enforcers clashed with KNF in the hill tract area. In July and August of that year, the KNF had two virtual discussions with the committee.