Tripura school teacher sexual abused by Bengali settlers in Panchari

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

On 18 October 2009 at 11.00 am a pre-primary school teacher of UNICEF Para Kendra (16 years) of village Sindhu Karbari Para of Waduk Para of Panchari Mouza under Panchari upazila (sub-district) of Khagrachari district was abused by two unknown Bengali settler while taking bath near the stream. It is learnt that while taking bath in stream suddenly two Bengali settlers came and made tighter her mouth and show knife and tried to rape her but due to shouting of victim culprit were fled away. Unfortunately she was not able to mention their name but confess that, those settler’s faces were known to her.A FIR was lodged in Panchari police station and she was sent to Khagrachari sadar hospital for medical test. Local Tripura community leader Mr. Shushil Jibon Tripura, General Secretary of Bangladesh Tripura Kalyan (Welfare) Samsad (BTKS), Mr. Sukanta Tripura, Organizing Secretary of BTKS Headman Khetra Mohan Roaza, Chairperson of Durbar Network Shefalika Tripura, General Secretary of Khagrapura Mahila Kalyan Samity (KMKS) Shapla Tripura, Kuheli Chakma of Durbar Network, Advocate Anupam Chakma, Legal Adviser of Zabarang Kalyan Samity, Pramod Bikash Tripura, EX President of Tripura Student Forum, Bangladesh, Joytee Tripura, Office Secretary of BTKS has visited her in hospital.After completing some formalities she was sent to Khagrachari Judicial Magistrate Court and it is learnt that a case was filled in Judicial Magistrate Court, Khagrachari.

Indigenous people stage long march in 8 dists for rights

Primary Source: Kapaeeng Foundation
Secondary Source: The DailyStar

Thousands of indigenous people yesterday joined long marches in Natore, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Pabna, Bogra, Joypurhat, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur districts to press home their demand for forming a separate land commission to protect land rights of the indigenous people living in plain lands.

Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP) organised the programmes.

Several hundred people marched about 30 kilometres from Kakonhat to reach Rajshahi deputy commissioner's office at around 2:00pm, reports our staff correspondent from Rajshahi.

They held a rally on the DC office premises and submitted a memorandum demanding formation of a separate land commission to resolve the land-related problems of the indigenous people of plain lands.

The indigenous people demanded stopping occupation of their lands in the name of land survey and using forged deeds.

Proper investigations should be carried out to resolve the land related problems in the plain lands, they said.

JAP President Anil Marandi led the demonstration in Rajshahi.

Thakurgaon unit of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad yesterday submitted memorandum to the prime minister through Thakurgaon deputy commissioner demanding their constitutional rights and formation of a separate land commission for the indigenous people of plan land, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent.

Indigenous people have suffered discriminations in different fields as the government did not pay proper attention to their cause, speakers said at the discussion organised by the indigenous people in front of the deputy commissioner's office.

Urging the government to save the indigenous people's land from grabbers, they said all fake documents prepared to occupy indigenous people's lands should be declared illegal.

They demanded withdrawal of all false cases against indigenous people.

After a procession that paraded different streets in the town, the participants started for Birol upazila under Dinajpur district where indigenous people from 16 districts of the northern region will attend a huge rally today.

Our Pabna correspondent adds: Jatiya Adivasi Parishad yesterday brought out a procession in Pabna town and submitted memorandum to the prime minister through the deputy commissioner's office demanding steps to establish rights of indigenous people living in plain lands.

Several hundred indigenous people joined a procession from the premises of Pabna Tarash Bhaban at noon.

After parading the main streets in the town, they held a protest meeting in front of Pabna Deputy Commissioner's Office.

President of district unit of JAP Ram Prashad Mahato chaired the protest meeting where indigenous leaders Jaleshar Mahato, Jagannath Mahato, Filip Samaddar Khakan, Suruti Mahato, Aloka Mahato spoke, among others.

The indigenous people contributed to making the land fertile but now they are neglected in their own country, speakers said at the meeting.

Indigenous people are becoming landless as criminals with the help of a section of officials are grabbing their lands, they said.

They demanded establishment of a separate land commission for the indigenous people living in plain lands so that they can live with dignity, maintaining own tradition and culture.

Human Chain, Rally: Punish rapist of Satkhira speech impaired girl

Source: The Daily star

Several hundred people yesterday joined a human chain and a rally in the town demanding punishment to the rapist and abductors of a hearing and speech impaired girl and protection of the victim's family members and case witnesses.

A good number of physically and mentally challenged men and women also joined the human chain on Satkhira-Kaliganj road in front of Satkhira Collectorate Building.

Satkhira Pratibandhi Punarbasan Kalyan Samity, Bangladesh Pratibandhi Punarbasan Kalyan Samity and National Alliance of Disabled People's Organisations jointly organised the programme.

After getting released on bail, the two main charge-sheeted accused in the case for abduction and rape of the girl are now threatening the complainant and witnesses not to proceed further with the case, speakers told the rally.

They urged the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police of Satkhira to take steps for ensuring security of the complainant and witnesses and punishment of the culprits.

Daughter of a rickshaw van driver of Dakkhin Sreepur village in Kaliganj upazila, the 16-year-old hearing and speech impaired girl worked as a maid at a house in the same village.

Bangladesh: Land Grabbers set fire on three Hindu Families at Sighra Upazila, Natore

One person roasted alive

Source: The Daily Sambad

Influential Land grabbers set fire on three Minority families at night belonging to Hindus at village- Tajpur- Singhra Upazila of Natore District of BANGLADESH on 02.11.2009. The perpetrators also blocked the doors and windows under lock from outside sprinkling petrol on their houses. The perpetrators tried to kill those members of three Hindu families to grab Deity’s properties belonging to Hindus.

Raj Behari Ghosh (90) was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as his burn injury tossing about in pain was reported to be worse. Today (04.11.2009) it is reported by local police that Raj Behari Ghosh expired at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital due to such attack.

The dwelling houses belonging to Hindu families 1) Ratan Ghosh 2) Nripen Ghosh 3) Batbehari Ghosh was burnt to ashes. The perpetrators, having been enlarged on bail from criminal cases, took revenge on those Hindu families.

Because, recently on 24^th October, 09 with the leadership of an advocate Sajedur Rahman Khan and Union Parishad Member –Hasib of village -Tajpur with their hoodlums attacked 12 Hindu dwelling houses physically assaulting twenty three, destroyed houses, looted belongings. Besides, a woman was also sexually assaulted.

Those Hindu victims tried to intercept perpetrators, at the time of forceful occupation of 200 decimals of Deity’s (Debottor) landed properties recently on 24^th Oct.09. In this connection Mr.Sreebash Halder filed criminal cases against 33 perpetrators at local police station. Those perpetrators having been enlarged on bail from the court attacked again on those Hindu families on 2^nd of November, 09 as symbol of retaliation.

In this connection a sense of insecurity amongst the Minority communities are going on.

Mr.Rafiqul Islam, the Superintendent of Police, Natore visited the spot.

He also assured victim of persecution that within three days the perpetrators would be arrested.

In this connection Mr.Nagendra Nath Ghosh lodged first information report (FIR) against those 20 perpetrators at Singhra police station being Sighra P.S. case No. 05 dated 02.11.2009 against perpetrators under section 447/448/326/307/436/385/387/379/506(ii) and 109 of Penal code. Police was deployed at the spot and police informed that the present situation is under control.

Anti-militancy rally Nov 12

Source: The Daily Star News

Shamprodaikota, Jongibad Birodhi Mancha (SJBM), a citizens' platform against militancy and communalism, will hold a mass procession and rally in the city on November 12 demanding stern actions against religious extremism.

They also demanded ban on other religious extremist parties like Hizb ut-Tahrir who have been involved in promoting militancy in the country.

The demands came from a press conference at Liberation War Museum in the city.

The speakers at the press conference blamed Jamaat-e-Islami for promoting militant activities in the county saying most of the arrested militants were involved in the politics of Jamaat in the past.

Ajoy Roy, president of Sammilito Samajik Andolan, presided over the press conference. Prof Syed Anwar Hossain of Dhaka University read out a written statement at the press conference.

Scrap decision to conduct CHT land survey

Source: The Daily Star News

Speakers at a dialogue yesterday urged the CHT Land Commission to scrap its decision to conduct a land survey in Chittagong Hill Tracts without resolving the prevailing land disputes.

Conducting land survey before resolving the disputes stands against the spirit of the CHT peace accord and the traditional land ownership system in the hills, they added.

They also demanded amendment to the CHT Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001, terming it inconsistent with the CHT peace accord.

They also called for immediate cancellation of lease on lands in the CHT and rehabilitation of Bengali settlers.

The Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and Chittagong Hill Tracts Forest and Land Rights Protection Movement organised the dialogue at the ALRD auditorium in the capital.

The speakers also pointed out that the decision to complete the land survey within five months is unrealistic.

They said the administration in the hills arbitrarily taking decisions on the land management. But as per the CHT accord, they were supposed to hand over the responsibility to the district council members and Circle chiefs.

Justice Ghulam Rabbani said the existing land disputes must be settled in line with the CHT accord before any survey.

Dr Abul Barakat presented a study conducted by UNDP. According to the study, about 38 percent of Adivasi households in the Chittagong Hill Tracts were forced to relocate at least once during the period from 1977 to 2007.

About 22 percent of households were forcefully evicted from their homestead at least once during this period, it added.

The research also shows that in 82 percent of cases, the land grabbers were Bangali.

On average, every household in CHT lost at least 115 decimals of land during this period.

Dr Abul Barakat also stressed the need to resolve the land disputes before conducting any survey.

Prof Sadeka Halim, a commissioner of the Land Commission, said the land survey guidelines for the plain land cannot be applied to the hills.

Khushi Kabir, chairperson of ALRD, Samsul Huda, executive director of ALRD, Prof Amena Mohsin, Dr Swapan Adnan, member of CHT Commission, Sudatta Bikash Tanchangya and Mangal Kumar Chakma also spoke.

Garo people celebrate 'Wangala'

Source: The Daily star News

The indigenous Garo people at Madhupur in Tangail yesterday celebrated their largest annual festival Wangala/Onegala, a festival for dedicating crops to the goods.

Thousands of indigenous Garo people of Madhupur Garh region and other guests, including representatives of different NGOs and foreigners, joined the daylong programmes on Pirgachha Cent Paul High School premises at Pirgachha Dharmopalli in Madhupur.

With singing songs and giving wreaths to guests by the student of the school the celebration began.

Prof Mesbah Kamal, Philip Gain, Rakhi Mrong attended the programme among many others as guest.

Babul D Nokrake, Mrigen Hagidak, Monalisa Daru and Graner Nokrake also addressed the function.

After completion of all traditional formalities to dedicate crops to gods, Garo people performed an eye-catching cultural event on the same stage.

They performed their traditional dances, including Gorirua, Grikka, Nanggory, Dellang Mangpina, Amak Balanga Malla, Serenging and Bi Sa Dimdima dances on the stage.