CCA condemns violence against indigenous ethnic minorities in Khagrachhari, Bangladesh

Programme Review and Programme Direction

Two key deliberative sessions during the 15th CCA General Assembly are the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions.

The Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions will both be conducted in three groups relating to the CCA’s programme areas, namely, (i) General Secretariat (GS), (ii) Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF); and (iii) Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia (PD).

Assembly participants will have the option to join one of three groups for both the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions. For the sake of coherence, the assigned group will remain the same for both sessions.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat oversees the coordination of programmatic, administrative, and financial activities of the organization. The GS comprises various departments such as church and ecumenical relations, relations with ecumenical partners, finance, administration, and communications, which provide crucial support and services for the implementation of programs and contribute to the overall functioning of the CCA.

Programmes: Relations with member churches and councils, ecumenical partners; advocacy at the United Nations; ecumenical responses to emerging issues in solidarity; income development and finance; and communications.

Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)

Under the MU programme area, the CCA accompanies Asian churches to strengthen their mission and witness in multi-religious contexts, revitalise and nurture church unity and the Asian ecumenical movement, and develop contextual theological foundations.

Programmes: Asian Movement for Christian Unity (AMCU); Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS); Asian women doing theology in the context of wider ecumenism; contextualisation of theology in Asia and ecumenical theological education.

The EF programme area focuses on nurturing and developing ecumenical leaders in Asia. The programme aims to enhance spiritual formation and theological understanding, enabling people to actively engage in ecumenical dialogue and collaboration.

Programmes: Ecumenical Enablers’ Training in Asia (EETA); Asian Ecumenical Institute (AEI); Youth and Women Leadership Development; Ecumenical Spirituality and Nurturing of Contextual Liturgical Traditions; Asia Sunday

Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)

The BP programme area is dedicated to promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Asia’s diverse contexts. Through training, advocacy, and dialogue, the programme addresses the root causes of conflicts, empowers communities, and fosters sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.

Programmes: Pastoral Solidarity Visits; Churches in Action for Moving Beyond Conflict and Resolution; Young Ambassadors of Peace in Asia (YAPA); Ecumenical Women’s Action Against Violence (EWAAV); Eco-Justice for Sustainable Peace in the Oikos.

The PD programme area focuses on promoting justice, human rights, and social transformation in Asia. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and raising awareness, the programme addresses systemic injustice, empowers marginalised communities, and advocates for prophetic actions and meaningful change.

Programmes: Human Rights advocacy; Migration, Statelessness, and Trafficking in Persons; Asian Ecumenical Disability Advocacy Network; Asian Advocacy Network on the Dignity and Rights of Children (AANDRoC); Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment and Diakonia in Asia (ESADA); Health and Healing; Good Governance; Action Together to Combat HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA).

No preference updated.

29 September 2025

Farmlands in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) condemns the recent violence in Khagrachhari District, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, which has claimed several lives, left many injured, and destroyed homes, businesses, and places of worship belonging to indigenous ethnic minority communities.

The unrest, reportedly triggered by the alleged gang rape of an indigenous eighth-grade schoolgirl, escalated into vandalism, arson, and violent clashes. Reports confirm at least three deaths from minority indigenous communities and numerous injuries, including among security personnel. Despite the enforcement of Section 144, banning organised movements and rallies, the violence spread far beyond the district headquarters.

In a statement released on 29 September 2025, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara said, “CCA urges the Bangladeshi authorities to take immediate and impartial action to restore peace, ensure justice for victims, and hold perpetrators accountable.”

The Constitution of Bangladesh does not explicitly recognise indigenous peoples, referring to them instead as "tribes," "minor races," or "ethnic communities." This lack of recognition undermines the protection of their rights, threatening their security, land, and access to natural resources. Indigenous peoples face significant challenges regarding land rights, cultural preservation, and protection from discrimination, with indigenous women particularly vulnerable to human rights violations. Bangladesh has not adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and discourages the official use of the term "Indigenous."

“CCA calls on the government to guarantee the safety and protection of ethnic and religious minorities, whose rights and dignity are under severe threat. Safeguarding the rights and dignity of ethnic minority communities is vital for building peace, reconciliation, and social harmony in Bangladesh,” Dr Chunakara stated.

The Christian Conference of Asia stands in solidarity with the victims and their families and appeals to the government of Bangladesh to take urgent steps to end the violence and uphold justice and human dignity.

For the full text of the CCA General Secretary’s Statement, please click here.