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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