Massive land grabbing by outsiders in Bandarban evicting indigenous villagers and permanent Bengali residents
Hundreds acres of
lands have been occupied by outsiders in several upazilas under
Bandarban district. The land grabbers occupied these lands by
threatening to local Jumma and Bengali residents. The land occupiers
uprooted hundreds of families of indigenous villagers and permanent
Bengali residents.
Public
representatives raised this allegation at law and order meeting held on
10 June 2012 at conference hall of deputy commissioner’s office in
Bandarban district. Presided over by deputy commissioner of Bandarban
district Tarikul Islam, the meeting was attended by chairman of CHT
Development Board Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing MP as chief guest. Among
others, Superintendent of Police of Bandarban district Kamrul Ahsan,
additional district magistrate Ishrat Jaman, member of Bandarban Hill
District Council Kazi Majibur Rahman, chairmen and upazila nirbahi
officers (UNOs) of different upazilas in Bandarban district and
representatives of army and Boarder Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were present
in this meeting.
Some public
representatives attended in the meeting expressed their grievances
alleging that a retired army major named Mostofa Zaman occupied hundreds
acres of land at Faitong mouza under Lama upazila in Bandarban
district. The major created panic among local people by lodging one
after another cases against them.
Member of
Bandarban Hill District Council Kazi Majibur Rahman said that ‘We do not
want to see any outsider occupied our land. The land grabbers freely
occupied hundreds acres of lands owned by individuals and government.
The mass protests will be sparked at any time if such land grabbing is
not prevented.
Chairman of Lama
upazila Mohammad Ismail alleged that retired army major Mostafa Zaman
collected permanent residents certificate by forgery though he is not a
permanent resident in the hill district of CHT. He occupied hundreds
acres of lands at Faitong union under Lama upazila. He threatened to
file case against and made physical assault on local people while they
tried to oppose forcible occupation of their land. He already filed
false case to harass local people, chairman said. Mohammad Ismail also
informed that local people put written objection before the chairman of
CHT Development Board urging to take necessary action against this army
major.
Headman of
Faitong mouza Umra Mong Marma also alleged that army major Mostafa Zaman
is not permanent resident of his mouza. He collected permanent resident
certificate by forgery (Ptothom Alo, 11 June 2012).
It is also learnt
that more than 11 business companies including Destiny Group occupied
thousands acres of lands recorded and owned by permanent residents of
CHT including indigenous Jumma people. The business companies include
Mostafa Group, Laden Group, Shahamin Group, A Alam Group, PHP Group,
Meridian Group, Exim Group, Babul Group, Egme Group etc. These business
companies continue to occupy lands in order to extend its business and
area (Samakal, 7 June 2012).
It is also learnt
that Laden group is conducting militant activities at deep forest by
purchasing land illegally and planting on this land at Banapur area
under Sanghu mouza of Faisiyakhali union in Lama upazila of Bandarban
district. Laden group purchased around 7 thousand acres of land at
Eyangcha mouza, Sanghu mouza, Banapur, Trishdeba, Gayalmara, Choumur
Khal, Faitong, Faisiyakhali and Alikhyong Murung Jiri area under Lama
upazila and Baishari mouza and Gumdhum mouza under Naikhyongchari
upazila for this purpose (Natun Katha, 27 May 2012). Laden group
is continuing its activities in the name of Muhammadiya Jamia Sharif.
Headman of Faisiyakhali mouza Mong Thui Prue Marma alleged that Jamia
Sharif occupied more lands of Mro, Tripura and Marma communities
including his 25 acres of land (Prothom Alo, 8 June 2012).
It is alleged
that Laden group is also converting indigenous children into Islam from
Buddhism and Christianity by alluring facilities and financial help.
They first take indigenous children in Dhaka and then convert into Islam
(Natun Katha, 27 May 2012).
Please visit following link for national daily reports in Bangla:
Following is the report of daily Natun Katha published on 27 May 2012 about Laden group converting indigenous children into Islam:
Kapaeeng Foundation
(A Human Rights Organization for Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh)
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