The government has issued a cautionary letter to prominent human rights activist and Chakma Circle Chief’s spouse Yan Yan, accusing her of spreading “false and misleading” information against the state and military at the international level. Rather than backing down, Yan Yan has fired back — calling the allegations baseless and demanding the letter be withdrawn immediately.
Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Nazma Ashrafi sent the letter on April 6, acting on directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to the letter, intelligence reports indicate that Yan Yan has been working to unify members of different indigenous organisations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts while allegedly propagating false narratives against the government and the armed forces internationally. The letter warns her to strictly adhere to the country’s laws in any future statements or activities.
Yan Yan, wife of Chakma Circle Chief Raja Devasish Roy, declined to comment directly and referred queries to her legal counsel, senior Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain. Responding on her client’s behalf, Hossain said the letter contained “vague, unclear and unfounded allegations” and that its circulation to multiple parties “amounts to defamation in itself.” She added, “At a time when we are emerging from various forms of harassment, it raises the question why such vague directives are being used to create fear once again.”
Deputy Commissioner Ashrafi confirmed she issued the letter on instruction from Dhaka, saying, “I have simply carried out my duty. Human rights activists may raise the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs.”
The warning letter has drawn sharp criticism. Prominent rights activist Nur Khan told Prothom Alo, “This is an attempt to suppress people’s voices and indirectly curtail their right to speak — something that has happened in the Chittagong Hill Tracts before. Whenever activists raised human rights concerns in the region, such attempts to silence them were made. It seems we are gradually moving backwards.”
