5th meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee held in Dhaka

Source: PCJSS

On 28 May 2012 the 5th meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee was held at the office of the deputy leader of the Parliament of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka. The meeting started at 10.00 am and continued for more than two hours.

Presided over by convenor of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee and deputy leader Ms. Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, the meeting was attended by member of the committee Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, president of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and Mr. Jatindra Lal Tripura MP, chairman of the Task Force on rehabilitation of returnee refugees and IDPs. Besides, adviser to the prime minister on international affairs Dr. Gowher Rizvi was also present there on special invitation.

The agenda on amendment of CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act of 2001, progress of implementation of the CHT Accord and overall situation in CHT were discussed in this meeting. It is learnt that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.

In this meeting, the CHT Accord Implementation Committee stuck to its stand on three points in the draft proposals for amendment to the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act of 2001 and cancelled another proposal for involvement of Land Ministry, Ministry of CHT Affairs (MoCHTA) and CHT Accord Implementation Committee over the functions of the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission. It is mentionable that CHT Regional Council (CHTRC) and Ministry of CHT Affairs (MoCHTA) had finalised a draft bill for amending the Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act of 2001 with 13 proposals and the CHT Accord Implementation Committee in its last meeting endorsed them for amendment, but the Land Ministry sought fresh opinion on four proposals.

The Land Ministry objected to the proposal for replacing the Section 6(1)(a) that reads “To settle the land related dispute of the rehabilitated refugees in accordance with the existing laws and customs in the Chittagong Hill Tracts” with “In addition to quick settlement of the disputes of lands of the rehabilitated tribal refugees to settle, all disputes of lands, which have been illegally given in settlement and occupied in accordance with the existing laws, customs and usages of Chittagong Hill Tracts”.

The Land Ministry objected to the proposal for dropping the sub-section of section 6(1)(c) that reads, ‘Provided that, this sub-section shall not be applicable in case of Reserved Forests, Kaptai Hydroelectricity Project area, Betbunia Earth Satellite Station, state-owned industries and land recorded with the Government or local authorities.’

The Land Ministry objected to the proposal for replacing the words “another two members” with “another three members” of the Section 7(3) that reads, “Attendance of the Chairman and another three members on the meeting shall be necessary for maintaining quorum and the Chairman of the commission shall preside over all meetings.”

The Committee decided in the meeting that the three proposals mentioned above would remain the same. The CHT Accord Implementation Committee also decided the following for implementation-

(a)    To place a bill for amending the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act of 2001, in the current budget session of parliament;

(b)   To send draft bill for amending the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act of 2001 to the CHTRC to get its final consent prior to place in the parliament;

(c)    To transfer the subject “Land and Land Management” to the Hill District Councils as soon as possible;

(d)   To finalise the draft Rules of Business of the CHTRC and execution of the CHTRC complex project;

(e)    To grant necessary fund for CHTRC’s office-cum-rest house in Dhaka and CHTRC complex project;

(f)    To hold meeting of the CHT Accord Implementation Committee in every month.

In his discussion, Mr. Jatindra Lal Tripura raised to provide adequate fund to the Task Force on Rehabilitation of Returnee Refugees and IDPs for setting up its office, appointment of staff and logistics.

Mr. Larma raised the issues of declaration of a roadmap with timeframe in order to ensure effective implementation of CHT Accord, withdrawal of temporary camps, involvement of CHTRC in amending the NGO policy, controversial activities of chairman of CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission etc.

Participating in the discussion on overall situation in CHT, Mr. Larma said that the CHT situation might go beyond control within the next couple of months if the government did not show visible progress in implementing the CHT Accord. The Jumma people do not want to hear promises anymore, they want deeds, he said.

Mr. Larma also informed the Committee about the anti-accord terrorist activities of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and Bengali settlers and asked to the government to ban the UPDF. He also informed about recent grenade attack on the students of Hill Students Council (PCP) in Rangamati, killing of Anil Chakma in Laxmichari by armed group of the UPDF, heinous raping and killing of 11-year old Sujata Chakma in Longadu by Bengali settlers etc. Mr. Larma said that the CHT people are passing their life with fear and insecurity due to non-implementation of CHT Accord.

Rights groups form a human chain urging to take action against increasing atrocities on indigenous peoples including women and children

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

On 24 May 2012 the All Walks of Citizen Groups formed a human chain organized urging the government of Bangladesh to take action against the increasing atrocities on indigenous peoples including women and children.

All Walks of Citizen Groups include Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, Jatiya Adiavsi Parishad, Kapaeeng Foundation, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Oxfam, ActionAid, Pahari Chattra Parishad, Adivasi Chattra Sangram Parishad, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and Bangladesh Indigenous Women Network.

In a declaration read out during human chain, they said that “With great distress and anxiety, we observe that acts of attack, murder, rape and violence against indigenous peoples in various parts of the country have been increasing at an alarming rate. This has certainly attracted the attention of the conscientious citizens of Bangladesh and has made us gravely concerned. On May 19, a seven year old indigenous girl name Shagori Oraon was brutally raped and killed. On May 20, a grenade attack on unarmed Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) students injured at least 14. On 22 May, one of the victims, Mongsa Ching Marma, age 20, died at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) while undergoing treatment. Four more are severely injured and many of them will be disabled for good. On May 4, four indigenous farm workers were barbarically murdered! in the upazila of Manda in the Noagaon district. On May 9, Sujata Chakma, an 11-year old school girl from Longadu upazila in Rangamati district was raped and inhumanly hacked to death with a machete. Last but not the least, on April 28, an indigenous woman named Ms. Alpana Chakma alias Kalabi (45) of Jarulchara under Longadu upazila in Rangamati district was brutally assaulted and looted by Bengali settlers. These recent events are a reflection of the insecurity in which the indigenous people reside and a result of the naked racial hatred that the indigenous population faces.”

The declaration also added that “We form this human chain today to condemn the above incidents. In addition we want to clearly state that the government has failed to ensure the security of the marginalized communities of Bangladesh including their women and children, who are unable to lead a normal life. The security forces of the government has taken no action to prosecute the criminals under the justice/judicial system. We the civil society strongly urge the government administration to take immediate actions to protect the marginalized communities from violence. The civil society expresses its serious concern at the government’s negligence towards ensuring the overall security of the indigenous peoples, labourers, women and children. We observed carefully that even after the grenade attack o! n PCP the administration has remained quiet. Government has taken no steps to provide assistance to the injured. The civil society has noticed that bomb attacks on indigenous peoples have added a new dimension to the violence against indigenous peoples.

Rights groups also said that “The civil society of the country is furthermore concerned that the violence against religious and ethnic minor communities has risen recently all over the country. There were attacks on Hindu communities of Haathajari, Shaatkhira, Jamalpur in Chittagong where homes and temples were burnt down and looted. Racial torture on indigenous peoples has also increased alarmingly. The rate of raping and killings of indigenous women has also increased significantly as this gathering observes.”

The rights organisations strongly urged the government administration to take urgent actions to meet the following demands:

• To give exemplary punishment to the rapists and murderers of 7 year old Sagori Oraon from Badolgachi of Naogaon district and 11 year old Sujata Chakma from Longodu in Rangamati for their barbarous crimes.
• To ensure the formation of fair investigative committee to capture the culprits of the bomb attack on students of PCP in Rangamati on 20 May 2012.
• To arrest and punish the killers of 4 indigenous labourers in Manda of Naogaon and to compensate the families of the 4 victims for their loss and rehabilitate them to ensure their future from a special relief fund.
• To issue and implement a special action plan for ensuring the security of the marginalized workers and indigenous peoples.

Among others, president of Workers’ Party of Bangladesh MP Rashed Khan Menon, executive director of MJF Shahin Anam, general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum Sanjeeb Drong, Sharmin Shamim Morshed, executive director of RDC Mesbah Kamal, programme officer of Oxfam Saikat Biswas, Tahmina Haque of ActionAid et al spoke in the human chain.

A minor indigenous girl killed after rape in Naogaon

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

On 19 May 2012 a 7-year old minor indigenous girl named Sagori Oraon was killed after rape by Bengali auto-rickshaw driver (Bhut-bhuti driver) named Nannu Mian (25) s/o Ataur Rahman at Mohammadpur village of Paharpur union under Badalgachi upazila of Naogaon district.

It is learnt that Nannu Mian, a resident of nearby Mohammadpur village, often visits to Shuka Oraon’s house where the victim along with her parents has been staying for a month. Thus a good relationship was built between Nannu Mian and Shula Oraon’s family. By taking the advantage of good relation, Nannu Mian himself introduced with Sagori Oraon.

On 19 May 2012 Nannu Mian took Sagori Oraon in the name of visiting his aunt’s house at Mohammadpur village. Then, on the way to her aunt’s house, Nannu Mian raped and killed the girl. Following day in the morning the villagers of the Mohammadpur village discovered the dead body of Sagori Oraon at banana garden. It is suspected that after killing Nannu Mian left dead body of Sagori Oraon at this banana garden at night.

Later the police of Bodolgachi police station rushed to the banana garden and recovered the dead body and sent for post mortem. It is learnt that genital organ of the victim was severely injured.

On 20 May 2012 at around 5.00 pm when the dead body was taken to the Bishpur village, a heart breaking scenario was appeared in the spot. The parents and elder brother of victim burst out crying at that time. Relating to this incident police filed a case. Mean while police arrested the parents and a cousin of Nannu Mian. At last on 23 May 2012 at around 5.00 pm police arrested the perpetrator Nannu Mian.

Please find a newspaper clipping attached herewith.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=235367

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It is mentionable that recently attack on indigenous villagers living in northwest region of the country has increased. For instances-

On 4 May 2012 four indigenous laborers were killed and 10 more, including woman, seriously injured at Chakgopal field in Kashpur union of Manda upazila in Noagaon district in a clash over land dispute.

On 16 March 2012 a land grabber named Rois Uddin and his son Rabiul Islam of Dumuriya village under Godagari upazila with the help of police led by SI Mahbubur Rahman from Premtali police outpost under Godagari police station tried to occupy 13 bighas of homestead of Jadu Roy Bhuiyan of Shiyala village of Matikata union under Godagari upazila.

On 13 February 2012 and 26 February 2012 land grabber Kamal Rabbi and his gang made attack on the house of Rameshwar Baske at Saguna Jiban Para of Pakri union under Godagari upazila in Rajshahi district. Again, on 28 February 2012 Kamal Rabbi and his gang set fire on Jamin Hasda’s house of same village.

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An indigenous woman gang raped by a group of miscreants in Sylhet

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation.

On 26 May 2012 at night a 25-year old indigenous woman was raped by a group of Bengali miscreants led by Chikon Ali (40) at Daloi Para village of Khadim Para union under Sylhet sadar upazila in Sylhet district. The victim was admitted at Sylhet Medical College hospital. A case was filed against the culprits with Shahporan police station of Sylhet. However, no culprit has been arrested so far.

It is learnt that Mr. Dipu Dio (38) has been working at the garden of advocate Nowraj Ali of Daloi Para village of Khadim Para union under Sylhet sadar upazila in Sylhet district. Mr. Dio stays there erecting a makeshift on the bank of the pond of this garden and just four months ago he got married the victim. On that day around 9.00 pm, they went to bed as usual. When they were just sleeping, a group of Bengali miscreants led by Chikon Ali forcefully entered the house of Dipu Dio and kept him at the water of pond fastening him strictly. Then they raped the victim. Hearing the shout of the victim, villagers of nearby area rushed there and rescued the victim and her husband. Sensing this, the culprits fled the area leaving the victim injured. After rescuing the victim with serious condition, she was taken to Sylhet Medical College hospital for treatment.

Sources confirm that medical test of the victim was conducted and positive result was found. A case in connection with this rape incident was filed by the victim with Shahporan police station in Sylhet against Chikon Ali (40) s/o late Monowar Ali, Ysuf Ali (35) s/o late Kanai Mian and Foisor Rahman (30) s/o Monowar Ali and other unknown 5/6 persons. However, no body was arrested by police.

An indigenous villager brutally beat by a group of miscreants in Sunamganj

On 28 May 2012 around 9.00 pm an indigenous villager named Tranis Howee (40) of Zumgaon village under Duwara upazila in Sunamganj district was brutally beaten by a group of miscreants belong to mainstream population. He sustained severe injuries on his body. He was admitted at Sylhet Medical College hospital.

Sources said that following a quarrelling regarding football match held at the village, Tranis Howee was attacked.

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It is worth mentioning that communal attack, murder, rape and violence against indigenous peoples including women and children in various parts of the country have been increasing at an alarming rate. On 19 May 2012, a seven year old indigenous girl name Shagori Oraon was brutally raped and killed. On 20 May 2012, a grenade attack on unarmed students of Hill Student Council (PCP) was attacked leaving at least 14 innocent students injured. On 22 May 2012, one of the victims of this grenade attack named Mongsa Ching Marma (20) died at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) while undergoing treatment. On 4 May 2012, four indigenous farm workers were barbarically murdered in the upazila of Manda in the Noagaon district. On 9 May 2012, Sujata Chakma, an 11-year old school girl from Longadu upazila in Rangamati district was raped and inhumanly hacked to death with a machete. Last but not the least, on 28 April 2012, an ! indigenous woman named Ms. Alpana Chakma alias Kalabi (45) of Jarulchara under Longadu upazila in Rangamati district was brutally assaulted and looted by Bengali settlers. These recent events are a reflection of the insecurity in which the indigenous peoples reside and a result of the naked racial hatred that the indigenous peoples are facing.

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Fresh grenade attack on unarmed PCP students by the UPDF in Rangamati leaves at least 14 seriously injured

Source: PCJSS

On 20 May 2012 anti-accord terrorist group United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF) made a grenade attack on unarmed Jumma students at Kalyanpur area in Rangamati town. At least 14 activists of Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) (Hill Students’ Council) were injured in this attack. All of the injured were taken to Rangamati General Hospital. Six of them were later shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) and three who are seriously injured were referred to Dhaka Orthopedic Hospital by the CMCH.

It is learnt that PCP organised a public meeting at Gymnasium premises in Rangamati town on 20 May 2012 marking its 23th founding anniversary and 17th Council. Hundreds of Jumma students attended the meeting in which president of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma and convenor of Gono Oikya Committee Pankaj Bhattachariya from Dhaka were present as guest.

After attending the public meeting, like other students who came from different parts of the district, students of Swedish Polytechnic Institute of Kaptai started to return to their hostel in Kaptai by bus. On the way, they halted at patrol pump situated at Kalyanpur area to wait other some fellows. At that time around 3.30 pm, a grenade from a running auto-rickshaw bound to College Gate was thrown targeting the students of Swedish Polytechnic Institute and blasted leaving 14 students including one passerby seriously injured.

Of the injured, Jibon Chakma and Kamanashish Chakma (21) s/o Arabindu Chakma were admitted at Dhaka Orthopedic Hospital and Babudhan Chakma (20) s/o Punya Ranjan Chakma was at Dhaka Heart Institute. Other three injured namely Mongsa Ching Marma (20) s/o Kyaw Ching Marma, Nipun Chakma s/o Ushamoy Chakma and Joni Chakma (18) d/o Kulapradip Chakma were undergoing treatment at CMCH. Besides, Bhushan Chakma (20) s/o Chittamoy Chakma, Ronel Chakma (16) s/o Biplab Chakma, Kushal Chakma (20) s/o Tarun Bikash Chakma and Belal s/o Kalu were undergoing treatment at Rangamati General Hospital while Mongma Marma (20) s/o Chathui Prue Marma, Chainu Prue Marma s/o Suisathong Marma, Abuching Marma s/o Mongsuri Marma and Kamalesh Chakma were released after first aid.

It is learnt that the chest and legs of Jibon Chakma are almost smashed. Condition of Kamanashish Chakma and Babudhan Chakma are very serious.

It is worth mentioning that since its inception, anti-accord element UPDF have been conducting terrorist activities including kidnapping, killing, extortion etc. in order to hinder implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord signed in 1997 between the Government of Bangladesh and the PCJSS and to fulfill its vested interest by making CHT situation turmoil. After the signing of the Accord, UPDF killed more than 250 supporters of CHT Accord including 85 PCJSS members. UPDF also made several armed attacks on president of the PCJSS and chairman of the CHT Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, though Mr. Larma could narrowly escape from killing.

As part of its killing activities, on 19 May 2012 early in the morning armed group of UPDF made an armed attack on the house of Anil Chakma at Jurgachari under Laxmichari in Khagrachari. In this attack, Anil Chakma who was chairman of Laxmichari union and president of Laxmichari branch of PCJSS was shot death and two other villagers namely Shanti Ranjan Chakma (25) s/o Samiran Chakma and Mohendra Chakma (42) s/o Jagat Chakma sustained bullet injuries. Anil Chakma was targeted as he joined to the PCJSS protesting terrorist and autocratic activities of UPDF and is organising general public in Laxmichari area to oppose terrorist activities of UPDF.