DHAKA, Nov 3, 2025 (BSS)- The government today firmly rejected the recent story of Netra News on Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

A press release of the Ministry of Home Affairs today said, a recent article by Netra News and its associated photo project mischaracterize the CHT as an ‘occupied’ or ‘militarized’ region.

“Such presentation is factually incorrect, misleading, and disrespectful for both the people of the CHT and the people of Bangladeshi nation as a whole,” it said.

“The Chittagong Hill Tracts have always been, and remain as an integral part of the sovereign territory of Bangladesh since independence in 1971,” the home ministry said. 

It clarified that the region is administered under the civil authority of the Government of Bangladesh, not military rule. 

The home ministry said the security forces are present there as like in other parts of the country, and their role is to ensure peace, safeguard all citizens, and support stability and development of the region.

The government also categorically rejected any comparison of the CHT with the ‘West Bank’ or other occupied territories, calling such analogies are baseless and a gross distortion of reality.

“Bangladesh is a unitary state with no part of its sovereign territory is under occupation,” the release said.

The home ministry said, “Bangladesh remains fully committed to upholding human rights, fostering inclusivity, and advancing the welfare and development of all communities in the CHT.”

“We welcome credible, evidence-based reporting on any alleged human rights concerns. To date, no substantiated complaints or verified reports of systematic abuse by security forces in the region have been received,” the ministry also said.

It said, “Bangladesh values freedom of artistic and journalistic expression. However, such expression must be exercised with a sense of responsibility and factual accuracy on the ground.” 

Home ministry urged all media and creative platforms to exercise due diligence, professionalism, and sensitivity when addressing complex historical and social contexts.