Dhaka, Nov. 11 -- Armed violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) has killed 308 civilians and injured 435 others over the past five years, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has told parliament.

Presenting casualty figures on behalf of the defence ministry on Wednesday, he said eight members of the security forces were killed and 55 wounded in assaults mounted by armed groups over the same period.

The disclosure came in response to a query from SA Jinnah Kabir, a BNP lawmaker representing the Manikganj-1 constituency.

Raising the issue, Jinnah said that armed elements in Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban continue to target both the army and local residents, while engaging in widespread extortion and land-grabbing.

He alleged that...