The Chakma community of Tripura observed August 17 as ‘Black Day’ in protest against the inclusion of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) that constituted 98.5 percent non-Muslim population with erstwhile Pakistan during the partition in 1947. People of the Chakma community observed ‘Black Day’ at Kanchanpur in North District as well as other Chakma-dominated areas in Northeast and other areas.
Speaking to the media, vice president of the Tripura Chapter of Chakma National Council of India (CNCI), Anirudra Chakma said, the decision to observe August 17 – two days after the country’s Independence Day – as ‘Black Day’ was taken in the first national conference of the Chakma National Council of India held on March 24 and 25, 2016 in Guwahati, Assam. Since then, this ‘Black Day’ is being observed in various Chakma inhabited areas in India.
Aniruddha Chakma said, “Many of us do not know that this 15th August was an extremely anxious and dreamy day for the indigenous communities of Chakma, Marma (Mog), Tripura, Mro, Bom, Pankho, Khumi, Lushei, Khyang, Tangchangya and Chak of Chittagong Hill Tracts. Although, the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts led by undisputed leader Sneha Kumar Chakma hoisted the tricolor Indian national flag in anticipation of Independence, however, there was apprehension regarding the uncertainty of whether the Chittagong Hill Tracts region would be included in India or Pakistan. Before two more nights of such uncertainty could pass, it was officially announced on the radio on 17th August 1947 that the Chittagong Hill Tracts region had indeed been rewarded to Pakistan”.
He continued and said, “In fact, August 17, 1947 was an extremely nightmare for all indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It was the beginning of another dark chapter in history,” CNCI said in a press communiqué.
Apart from CNCI state committee vice-president Anirudra Chakma, General secretary Uday Jyoti Chakma, Tripura Chakma Student Association general secretary Subal Chakma were present in the protest programme.