Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has dismissed the notion of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) receiving support from India's Mizoram or any other external sources. He made these remarks during the virtual inauguration of five flyovers constructed under the “Sasec Road Link Project-2 (Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur Highway)” from the ministry’s meeting room at the Secretariat on Saturday.

Addressing the recent armed activities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Quader noted that a small group operating primarily in Bandarban has initiated these actions. He assured that law enforcement agencies are engaged in a collaborative operation to address the situation swiftly.

Quader, also the General Secretary of the ruling Awami League, highlighted the ongoing joint operations in response to the recent bank robberies in Ruma and Thanchi, the theft of police and Ansar weapons, the attack on a police checkpoint, and the abduction of a Sonali Bank branch manager.

He affirmed that investigations are underway and assured that pertinent details will be disclosed soon.

Recent incidents include an attack on a checkpoint in Alikadam upazila of Bandarban and various other instances of robbery, abduction, and clashes between the KNF and law enforcement agencies in Ruma and Thanchi upazilas.

The KNF had abducted the manager of Sonali Bank’s Ruma upazila branch earlier in the week, attempting to loot funds from the branch vault. However, failing to do so, they resorted to kidnapping the manager, who was later rescued.

Furthermore, the group conducted robberies at Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank branches in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban on Wednesday.