Land acquisition process restarts in Ruma?

THE process of land acquisition for expansion of Ruma garrison in the
southern CHT district of Bandarban seems to have restarted.

On 24 and 31 October, Ruma zone commander Lt. Col. Wasim held meetings
with local Jumma headmen, Karbaris (village heads) and village elders
in this regard, an elected Jumma representative told chtnews.com on
condition of anonymity.

Lt. Col. Wasim was the commander of Baghaihat zone when attacks on
Jumma villages took place on 19 – 20 February this year, resulting in
the death of at least four Jumma villagers and burning down of over
400 houses.

“The commander asked the Jummas to show him their land documents and
told them that the process of land acquisition for the expansion of
Ruma garrison will restart soon”, he further said quoting meeting
sources.

The army has been trying to acquire some 9,560 acres of land in Ruma
since 1977. However, no government in the past, including the
immediate past military-backed interim government of Fakhruddin Ahmed,
has approved of the proposal considering the likely environmental and
cultural damage that it would cause to the area and the people.

If implemented, the project will displace thousands of Jummas, mainly
from Mro community and destroy the greenery of the area.
.............................

source: chtnews.com