Indigenous peoples compelled to leave the village, following forcible land grabbing in Lama
13
poor families of indigenous Mro community from Amtali Para village of
Fasiakhali union under Lama upazila in Bandarban district have been
forced to evacuate the village due to the alleged persecution of the
land-grabbers. Few non-government organizations were working for the
advancement of their situation of the indigenous peoples—whose endeavor
eventually became of no use due to this incident.
It
was learned that local non-government organization ‘Ekota’ and the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) had allocated four hundred
thousand taka for the development of the livelihoods of the indigenous
Mro villagers of this area. With the auspices of the UNDP’s ‘Quick
Impact Fund’ project, Taka 399,900 had been allocated for cattle farming
and food conservation in order to develop the socio-economic condition
of the indigenous villagers. Of this overall amount, Taka 216,600 has
been spent—and no instruction has been given for the use of the rest
Taka 186,300 so far by the organizations.
The
probe report submitted by ‘Ekota’ to the UNDP showing the reason behind
such abandonment states that the indigenous villagers of Amtali Para
used to cultivate Jum (shifting cultivation)—when their that land was
grabbed by the land grabbers, they had to vacate the land. The report
also stated that an Islamic organization, namely Muhammadia Jamia Sharif
(widely known as Laden Group in the area) from Dhaka is involved with
this land grabbing.
Recognizing
the fact of the abandonment of the indigenous peoples, Mohammad Ismail,
the chairman of Lama upazila said that “many institutions from the
outside, including Muhammadia Jamia Sharif are grabbing lands illegally
in the area. For this reason, the indigenous villagers of Amtali Para
left the area. And many permanent Bengali residents and indigenous
villagers are passing their days with eviction-anxiety.”
Besides,
the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) said that he heard about the incident
of the eviction of the indigenous peoples. However nobody officially
complained to him. Furthermore, the assistant superintendent of police
of Lama Amzad Hossain said, “when I went to investigate in the Amtali
Para village, I did not see any people in the village. Muhammadia Jamia
Sharif and some other institutions are involved with land grabbing.”
However,
the head of Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar region Muhammadia Jamia Sharif
Anisul Islam said that “the information that the inhabitants of Amtali
Para left the village due to land grabbing is not true. There are some
terrorist groups in the area. The indigenous peoples had to move to the
Naikhyongchari area due to their persecution.” Claiming that he is still
in touch with those Mros, adding “Mro people still want to come back—if
the security is ensured they will all come back.”
Notably,
on last 8 May, the deputy commissioner of the Bandarban gave direction
to the UNOs of Lama and Naikhyongchari upazilas to take nearly one
thousand acres of illegally occupied lands by Muhammadia Jamia Sharif
which are basically Jum land under the collective ownership of
indigenous peoples. Local sources confirmed that UNOs were giving
letters to the headmen of the area to take the land under government
control.
This
report is prepared as per news published on daily Prothom Alo (Bangla)
on 8 July 2012. Please visit following for the news of the Prothom Alo-
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Bengali settlers commit robbery on Jummas in lake area in Longadu, 3 Jummas wounded
On 9 July a robbery
was committed by Bengali settlers on indigenous peoples at lake area in
Longadu upazila of Rangamati district. In this robbery, 11 indigenous
Jummas were looted and 3 Jummas were injured. The injured Jummas were
admitted at Longadu upazila hospital.
It is learnt that 11
indigenous Jummas were coming to Rangamati headquarters from Baghaichari
upazila to sell their agro-products by a country-boat. A group of
robbers belong to Bengali settlers numbering 10-12 persons by a trawler
halted the Jummas when they reached at lake area of Kolatila-Swarnatila
area 6-7 miles away to the south-east from Longadu headquarters under
Longadu upazila in Rangamati district 2012 at around 8:00 am. The
Bengali settlers first attacked the Jumma villagers with sharp weapons. 3
Jummas were seriously injured when they tried to oppose the attack of
robbers. The robbers snatched 11 mobile sets, ornaments, cash money and
clothes worth around 200,000 taka. Siin after looting, the robbers
rapidly left the place towards Basonya Adam area.
The injured Jummas were identified as-
(1) Mr.
Utpal Kanti Chakma (37) son of Narendra Chakma, village- Chintaram
Chara, Sarwatali union, Baghaichari upazila; he was cut in the back of
head.
(2) Mr.
Dronacharjo Chakma (45) son of late Sumati Ranjan Chakma, village-
Galachipa, Chijak area, Baghaichari; he was hurt in left hand.
(3) Mr.
Riken Chakma (28) son of Mr. Surjo Kumar Chakma, village- Sijakmukh
area, Baghaichari upazila. he was hurt in the upper right arm.
Other victims who became under looting and beating were identified as:
(1) Ms. Kokila Chakma (22) wife of Riken Chakma, village- Sijakmukh area, Baghaichari upazila;
(2) Mr. Sadhan Kumar Chakma (37) son of late Sindhumoni Chakma, village- Galachipa, Baghaichari upazila;
(3) Mr. Binoy Chakma (60) son of late Shashi Mohan Chakma, village- Galachipa, Baghaichari upazila;
(4) Mr. Likhon Chakma (23) son of Ananda Kumar Chakma, village- Chintaram Chara, Baghaichari upazila;
(5) Mr. Annapurna Chakma (45) son of Shuvadev Chakma, village- South Sijak, Baghaichari upazila;
(6) Mr. Upendra Chakma (65) son of late Chandra Kumar Chakma, village- Sijakmukh, Baghaichari upazila;
(7) Mr. Promesh Chakma (32) son of late Surendra Chakma, village- Sijakmukh, Baghaichari upazila;
(8) Mr. Robindra Kanti Chakma (28) son of Hengotya Chakma, village- Chintaram Chara, Bagaichari upazila;
(9) Mr. Razzak Chakma (26) son of late Faksa Chakma, village- Golachiba area, Baghaichari upazila;
(10) Mr. Jhantu Chakma (31) son of Dayamoy Chakma, village- Sijakmukh, Baghaichari upazila.
Till preparing the report (July 10), no one was arrested by the police.
----Kapaeeng Foundation
(A Human Rights Organization for Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh)
Hi, nice reading your post
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