Operation Uttaran () is a counterinsurgency military operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, the operation has been ongoing since September 2001.<ref name="Accord/interview"></ref> It replaced Operation Dabanal.<ref name="Accord/interview"></ref>
Background.
From 1976 to 1978, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board was established with several programmes and deployments and a conflict occurred between Bangladeshi security forces and insurgent groups from 1977 to 1997, which resulted in thousands of deaths until the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997, leading to the end of Operation Dabanal which was launched by the Bangladesh Armed Forces, however the accord was not fully implemented leading to tensions between insurgents and the Bangladeshi government.<ref name="Accord/interview"></ref>
History.
Operation Uttaran was launched by the caretaker government of Bangladesh in September 2001,<ref name="Accord/interview"></ref> After the BNP—Jamaat alliance took power in October 2001 after a victory in the 2001 Bangladeshi general election, Bangladeshi security forces expanded its military operation against insurgents in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Operation Uttaran came into effect.<ref name="Accord/interview"></ref> At least one-third of total personnel of the Bangladesh Army were deployed to Operation Uttaran. Operation Uttaran replaced Operation Dabanal and the Bangladeshi administration established "de facto" military rule in the Chittagong Hill Tracts via Operation Uttaran.<ref name="Accord/interview"></ref>
Administration.
Under the jurisdiction of Operation Uttaran, Bangladesh Army received 10,000 tons of rice which was used to develop settler villages for Bengali Muslims in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. After the operation was launched, the military maintained control over local resources, education, judiciary and civil administration. Operation Uttaran allowed the Bangladeshi military and paramilitary to intervene in civil society and political matters in the Chittagong hill tracts.<ref name="Accord/interview"></ref>
Governance.
After the establishment of CHTDB, the local administration and military have carried out educational and welfarist campaigns in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Government of Bangladesh was praised for its pro-development programmes.
Jurisdiction.
Development programmes and raids in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are often under the jurisdiction of Operation Uttaran.
Deployment.
The Bangladesh Armed Forces was deployed to Operation Uttaran and operations and raids under the jurisdiction of Operation Uttaran began and members of law enforcement and paramilitary organizations were also deployed, the 24th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Police and 16 battalions of the Bangladesh Ansar are particularly important in the operation but other security organizations and branches especially RAB, NSI, DGFI, SB were also deployed to the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Medals.
"Uttaran Padak" is the medal provided by the government of Bangladesh for members of Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladeshi security forces who played an important role during Operation Uttaran.