Sarjis Alam Expresses Regret Over Bandarban Remarks

Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer (northern region) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has expressed regret for his controversial remarks about Bandarban. In a Facebook post on Sunday (July 20) at 3:37 PM, he issued an apology for his statements.

In the post, Sarjis Alam wrote, “From the struggle, beauty, and harmony of Rangamati… we will fight for the rights and human dignity of all ethnic groups. This is our commitment from the July March.” He further added, “I am sincerely sorry for the unintended choice of words in a recent statement about Bandarban.” The remarks, in which Sarjis referred to Bandarban as a “place for punishment where extortionists are sent,” had triggered strong backlash in the hill district of Bandarban. In response, a local student organization warned that the NCP would be declared unwelcome in Bandarban if Sarjis did not apologize. The organization held a press conference to protest his comments and demand an apology. The press conference, organized under the banner of ‘Bandarban Student Community,’ took place on Sunday at around 11:30 AM at the Bandarban Press Club auditorium. Speakers at the event labeled Sarjis Alam’s remarks as “grossly insulting and discriminatory” toward the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Asif Iqbal, president of the Bandarban district branch of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Student Council, said, “On July 3, during the ‘July March’ in Panchagarh, Sarjis Alam stated that Bandarban is a ‘place of punishment’ where extortionists and corrupt officials are sent. Such a comment from a national-level leader is not only regrettable but utterly reprehensible and despicable. It is an insult to the dignity of the people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.” He further stated, “Such derogatory remarks have hurt the self-respect of the entire hill region’s people. Sarjis Alam must immediately retract his statement and publicly apologize. Otherwise, the NCP will be declared unwelcome in Bandarban.” The press conference, chaired by Asif Iqbal, was attended by Mahir Imtesar, vice-president of the Bandarban district branch of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Student Council, Habib Al Mahmud, general secretary, along with Khalid Bin Nazrul, Aminul Islam, and other representatives of the student community.