The Education Ministry has ordered administrations on the three Hill Tract districts — Rangamati, Khagracchari and Bandarban — to strictly monitor school and colleges.

 “The local administrations have been told to remain vigilant so that the students are not influenced to take part in regional controversial politics,” Secondary and Higher Education Division’s Additional Secretary Javed Ahmed told Bangla Tribune.

The move comes as intelligence inputs suggested that the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF), a local political party, is trying to recruit students, according to people familiar with the matter.

On Jun 30, UPDF and its affiliates organised procession and rally in Khagrachhari city, where school-goers in uniform were seen taking part. It is alleged that the students were forced to participate in the rally.

An education ministry directive, issued on Sept 19, said that students’ participation in events organised by the UPDF and its affiliates’ will be considered as ‘punishable offence’.

Therefore, it’s imperative to strictly monitor the educational institution to prevent any possible anti State activities, it read.

A similar directive was issued on Nov 19 last year after a college programme banner was seen containing anti-State messages.

The UPDF was formed when many in the Hill Tracts districts opposed the 1997 peace treaty between the Bangladesh government and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS) led by Santu Larma.

Since then, the two groups have fought a bitter turf war and many on both sides have died in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.