Probe attack on Chakma Palli in Teknaf, demand educationalists, politicians and indigenous leaders

The following news was published on Bangladeshi daily, the daily star:

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=238884

The Daily Star, Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Probe attack on Chakma Palli

Demand educationalists, politicians and indigenous leaders

Staff Correspondent 

Educationalists, politicians and indigenous community leaders organised a rally yesterday demanding proper investigation of a recent attack on indigenous people at Hoako Chakma Palli under Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.

They also demanded withdrawal of the “false case” filed against the Palli's residents, immediate release of the arrested residents and withdrawal of the “controversial” policemen from Hoako Police Outpost to restore the confidence of the residents on law enforcers.

The rally was held at the base of Shoparjito Swadhinata at Dhaka University with Bangladesh Adivasi Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb Drong in the chair.

The speakers said one, Abdul Haque, and his henchmen, assisted by law enforcers, attacked the Palli in Sukna Amtali village on May 29 and 30, assaulted two indigenous teenage girls and looted some three houses over a land dispute.

A delegation comprising political leaders, teachers, journalists and human rights workers visited the spot on June 7 and placed a five-point recommendation, including arrest of the perpetrators and compensation to the victims, they said.

Parbatya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity Organising Secretary Saktipada Tripura said the frequency of incidents of repression against the indigenous community has been alarmingly growing.

Veteran politician Pankaj Bhattacharya, who led the delegation, Dhaka University teachers Prof Mesbah Kamal, Prof HKS Arefin, Robaet Ferdous and Shantanu Majumder, Institute for Environment and Development Executive Director Numan Ahmed Khan and Wasir Rahman Tonmoy of Manusher Jonno Foundation also spoke at the rally.

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Following is the news from "New Age":

http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2012-06-19&nid=14275

New Age, 19 June 2012

Safety, equal right for minorities demanded

DU Correspondent

Teachers, politicians and rights activists at a demonstration on Monday urged people to compel the government to ensure safety and equal rights for the minorities.
They held prime minister Sheikh Hasina and foreign minister Dipu Moni responsible for continuous repressions on the country’s minorities due to their ‘callousness’ in taking punitive action against the tormentors of the minorities.

They staged the demonstration at the Swarak Dwip of TSC at Dhaka University, protesting a recent attack on a minority Chakma by a group of ‘land grabbers’ in collaboration with law enforcers in Teknaf upazilla under Cox’s Bazar.

They allegedly vandalised their houses, looted valuables, beat people—both male and female—and even raped a teenager, DU political science teacher Shantanu Majumder, said while addressing the rally.

The rights activists also raised questions about the sincerity of the home ministry to monitor the such repressive attacks both on minorities and journalists.
Gono Oikkya committee convener Pankaj Bhattacharya asked the government to ensure ‘exemplary’ punishment of the perpetrators of the incidents and the law enforcers involved with it.

Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity organising secretary Shaktipada Tripura called upon people to raise their voice against such repressive incidents.
Bangladesh Adivasi Forum general secretary Sanjeeb Drong presided over the rally, also addressed, among others, by DU anthropology professor SKS Arefin, mass communication and journalism teacher Rubayet Ferdous, Institute for Environment and Development executive director Noman Ahmed Khan and Manusher Jonno Foundation programme manager Wasiur Rahman Tonmoy.