Tourism Development in violation of CHT Accord: PCJSS

Source: PCJSS

On 23 December 2009 in a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on planning ministry undertook decision to promote tourism industry in CHT. The meeting was held at CHT Development Board conference in Rangamati with Committee Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmed in chair. The meeting was attended by members of the parliamentary standing committee, namely, planning minister Air Vice Martial (rtd) A K Khandakar, Md. Azizul Haque Chowdhury MP, Hamida Banu MP, Nawab Ali Abbas Khan and Shamsul Islam. Besides, secretary of planning ministry Habibullah Majumdar, secretary of CHT affairs ministry Masud Ahma, chairman of Tourism Corporation Hemayet Uddin Abdul Malek, deputy director of UNDP-CHTDF Prasenjit Chakma and Orshowja Chakma.

As part of the tourism development in CHT, the parliamentary standing committee on planning ministry decided to build road along the bank of Kaptai Lake. The road will be connected with Bandarban, Khagrachari and Chittagong districts. Decision was also taken to set up cable car, zoo and recreation centre for children along the road side.

It is mentionable that as per CHT Accord, the subject of ‘local tourism’ was vested with the three Hill District Councils (HDCs). As apex body of special administrative arrangement for CHT region, the CHT Regional Council (CHTRC) has the right to coordinate and supervise the subjects.

However, the subject of local tourism is yet to be transferred to HDCs. The parliamentary standing committee did not discuss to transfer subject to the HDCs. Moreover, the parliamentary standing committee undertook this decision without having consultation with HDCs and CHTRC. Even, representatives of these institutions were not invited in the meeting. Hence the decision of development of tourism in CHT is direct violation of CHT Accord. Though present government has been reiterating its commitment to implement CHT Accord fully, however, no initiative for implementation of main issues of the CHT Accord except reconstitution of few committees has been undertaken during the tenure of last one year.

It is also learnt that upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Bandarban sadar upazila (sub-district) Mr. Anupam Barua set up tourist centre at Kana Para area under Bandarban upazila by occupying land of indigenous people. A connecting road is also being constructed by the food for work project.

The owners of this land, namely, Mr. Mong Nue Prue Marma, Mr. Lal Lung Ruyal Bawm and Mr. Lal Pian Than Bawm contacted with UNO and objected against the construction of tourist centre on their land. However, UNO rejected their claims and filed case against them with Bandanban police station.

The owners of land submitted memorandum to state minister of CHT affairs ministry Mr. Dipankar Talukdar seeking justice and security. But no action has been taken against it so far.

Demand to probe post-poll 2001 violence in Bangladesh

Source: IANS

Dhaka, Dec 10 (IANS) A lawyer in Bangladesh Thursday served a notice on the government to constitute an inquiry commission within seven days to investigate atrocities on religious minorities immediately after the 2001 parliamentary poll.
Lawyer Manzill Murshed listed offences of murder, rape and torture of Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, besides cadres of political parties that lost the poll, swept by a four-party alliance led by Begum Khaleda Zia and her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The Dhaka High Court had May 6 this year directed the government to form this inquiry commission within two months and get the report from the commission within six months.

As the government did not comply with the court directive, Murshed served the notice, Star Online, web site of The Daily Star, said.

He told The Daily Star that he would file a contempt of court petition against the government if it does not form the commission within seven days.

According to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) 2003 report, an unknown number of Hindus and other religious minorities from Bangladesh remained internally displaced or were asylum seekers in India as a result of post-election violence that began in October 2001.

Nearly 7,000 Bangladeshis sought asylum elsewhere during the year, including more than 1,100 in Austria, more than 1,000 in the Slovak Republic, and nearly 1,000 in the US.

In the weeks following the Oct 1, 2001, general elections, Bangladesh witnessed an outburst of systematic attacks on the minority Hindu community across the country, in addition to attacks on activists of the freshly ousted Awami League.

By Oct 8 that year, at least 30 people had been killed and more than 1,000 others injured. Their houses were torched, ransacked and in many cases seized, women were raped, and temples were desecrated, according to New Delhi-based Human Rights Features.

Among the worst hit were the Hindu-dominated areas in Barisal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Satkhira, Jessore, Khulna, Kushtia, Jhenidah, Bagerhat, Feni, Tangail, Noakhali, Natore, Bogra, Sirajganj, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Brahmanbaria, Gazipur and Chittagong.

Many Hindu families reportedly fled their homes and sought refuge in areas considered ’safe.’ The Bangladesh Observer, a Dhaka daily, reported that at least 10,000 people of the minority community from Barisal district had left their homes following attacks by activists of the fundamentalist Jamaat-i-Islami party and had taken shelter in neighbouring Gopalganj district, the electorate of the present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Many others fled to the Indian states of Tripura and West Bengal.

The government of Zia that took office after winning a two-thirds majority in the poll, denied these incidents.

Bangladesh: 15000 cases of Violence against women and Children in last year

Source: The Daily star News

About 15,000 cases were filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act last year across the country, Home Minister Shahara Khatun said yesterday.

The cases involving violence against women and children account for ten percent of the total cases, she said as the chief guest at a discussion on 'Responsibilities of the government and the civil society for prevention of repression of women' at Biam auditorium in the city.

The minister also urged men to come forward to prevent violence against women.

"If we can launch a movement with proper participation of men and women, we can succeed in preventing violence against women," she said.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the discussion to mark the International Women Repression Prevention Fortnight that began on November 25 and the International Human Rights Day.

The theme of this fortnight is 'Unite to End Violence against Women'.

Replying to a question from reporters, Shahara Khatun said the government is fully prepared to combat national or international terrorism. "The government is ready to tackle any terrorist activities in the country," she said.

According to the monitoring cell at the Police Headquarters, at least 3,413 women were tortured over dowry, 83 women fell victim to torture, 2,336 were abducted, 2476 raped, 36 killed after rape, 33 injured after rape and 117 women killed during the period from January to October this year.

Mahila Parishad President Ayesha Khanam said that although a political government is now in power and most conscious people are in the ministry and parliament, women continue to face violence.

Referring to a survey prepared on the basis of newspaper reports, she said at least 937 women were killed during the period from January to October this year.

Additional Inspector General of Police (training) Aminul Islam, Mahila Parishad general secretary Maleka Banu, assistant general secretary Advocate Masuda Rehana Begum, Sahana Kabir and Maksuda Akhter also spoke.

Chakma woman attempted to rape by an army in Nanyachar

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

Introduction

On 8 November 2009 an army from Ghilachari army camp under Nanyachar army zone of 1 Bir Bengal allegedly attempted to rape a Chakma woman named Ms. Jamuna Chakma (21) w/o Shyamal Kanti Chakma of Krishnamachara village of Ghilachari union under Naniachar upazila (sub-district) in Rangamati district. The culprit was identified as Md. Ziaul. Later local people observed road blockade programme protesting against the incident. During the road blockade programme, agitated people allegedly hit and broke the glasses of an army pick-up. On the contrary, army personnel beat the protesters with stick and firewood leaving some women and men seriously injured.

Beginning of the incident

On that day around 3:00 pm Ms. Jamuna Chakma went to nearby well to bring water. At that time, army person Md. Ziaul also went there from their nearby sentry post in name of bringing drinking water. When he found Ms. Jamuna Chakma alone, he tried to grab her from behind and attempted to rape. But Ms. Jamuna Chakma could narrowly run away and reach nearby turmeric and ginger field where some Jumma villagers were working.

No sooner of the incident, husband of Ms. Jamuna Chakma along with neighboring villagers went to the Ghilachari camp and put objection against Md Ziaul. The camp authority, making eye-watch punishment to the culprit, tried to terminate the matter by offering some money to husband of Ms. Jamuna.

Immediate protest

But the local people and the victim’s husband did not agree on the verdict of the Ghilachari camp authority. That’s why, soon after hearing the verdict of the Ghilachari camp authority, the local people in participation of a huge number of women brought out a procession protesting the incident.

At one stage, on that day around 5:00 pm Lt. Colonel Md. Mushfikur Rahaman, Commander of Nanyachar army zone visited the spot and gave assurance of appropriate punishment of the actual criminal to the people demonstrating.

Demonstration continues, demands to the upazila leaders visiting the spot

On 9 November 2009, the local people again brought out a procession at Ghilachari area along the Rangamati-Khagrachari road. At that time, Chairman of Nanyachar upazila council Mr. Pritimoy Chakma, Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) of Nanyachar upazila Md Jahirul Islam, Chairman of Nanyachar union Mr. Panchanon Chakma, Chairman of Burighat union Mr. Pranati Ranjan Chakma and Chairman of Ghilachari union Mr. Mithu Chakma council visited the spot and at one stage, they were surrounded by the demonstrators. They were compelled by the demonstrators to give undertaking to fulfill the following demands:

(1) to punish the army involved with this incident without any delay;

(2) to withdraw Ghilachari army camp;

(3) to ensure security of life of the Jumma villagers;

(4) to stop harassment and torture on women;

Investigation Committee formed

On 12 November 2009 an Investigation Committee was formed in initiative of upazila chairman and upazila executive officer. The committee is as follows:

(1) Convener- Kumentu Chakma, vice chairman of Nanyachar upazila, (2) Member- Md. Rafique, S I of Nanyachar police station, (3) Member- Reni Chakma, women affairs officer of Nanyachar upazila, (4) Member- Mithu Chakma, chairman of No. 4 Ghilachari union council, (5) Member- Babul Karmakar, representative of Awami League of Nanyachar upazila.

The Investigation Committee has not yet published any report.

Army surrounded local leaders’ and villagers’ houses

On 12 November 2009 a group of army from Ghilachari camp conducted operation at Ghilachari area. During the operation, army surrounded the houses of (1) Pulak Chakma, s/o Bandajya Chakma, member of No. 2 Ward of Ghilachari union council and (2) Ananta Bikash Chakma, s/o Jersen Chakma of Ghilachari village of Ghilachari union.

Again, on 13 November 2009 army encircled the houses of (1) Mithu Chakma, s/o Sukra Kumar Chakma, chairman of No. 4 Ghilachari union council, (2) Amar Jiban Chakma, s/o Rabindra Nath Chakma, ex-chairman of Ghilachari union council and (3) Jogendra Chakma, s/o Mohan Banshi Chakma, member of No. 7 Ward of Ghilachari union council.

Again procession, hit on army pickup (car) and army attack on villagers

On 17 November 2009, the villagers again brought out a procession Ghilachari area along Khagrachari-Rangamati road. At one stage, protesters broke the front glass of a pickup of army when an army pickup was trying to overtake the procession and women protesters hit the army personnel with their wearing cloth ‘Pinon’. On the contrary, army also beat the demonstrators. In this brutal attack, the following persons were seriously injured:

(1) Ms. Jhinu Chakma (25) w/o Kalaboa Chakma, village- Kabukchari Mukh,

(2) Ms. Maya Chakma (15) d/o Buddha Kumar Chakma, student of class 9 of Mahaprum high school, village- Kabukchari Mukh,

(3) Ms. Chadra Mela Chakma (36) w/o Suresh Kumar Chakma (Barpeda), village- Kutukchari Nich Para of Kutukchari union,

(4) Mr. Anil Chakma (42) s/o Nandi Kumar Chakma, village- Pakujyachari of Mahalchari upazila of Khagrachari district,

(5) Ms. Kalabi Chakma (45) w/o Rajmoni Chakma, village- Kutukchari Badalama chara of Kutukchari union.

Among them, the first 4 persons were got admitted to Rangamati general hospital with serious injury.

17 houses of indigenous people ransacked

Source: The Daily Star News

At least five women were injured as a local influential person and his men attacked and ransacked 17 houses in an attempt to illegally evict indigenous people in Shialor village in Haripur upazila yesterday.

Of the injured indigenous women, Baramai Maddi, 46, was committed to Haripur Upazila Health Complex in a critical state.

Police said Abdul Alim and his men attacked the indigenous people around 11:30am and badly damaged 17 thatched houses.

President of Jatiya Adibashi Parishad of Haripur unit Soniram Hemrom told The Daily Star about 50 people led by Alim launched the attack for illegally evicting them from Som Maddi's ancestral land.

Alim claimed he purchased the 3.25 acres of land from Som's mother 22 years ago. However, Soniram trashed the claim and said in their tradition mothers cannot sell any land.

Soniram added on the day of the attack the indigenous male people went to the district headquarters to attend hearing of a case filed by Alim against 200 people to "harass" them.

The District Jatiya Adibashi Parishad protested the incident and submitted a memorandum to Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen and Deputy Commissioner Munshi Shahabuddin Ahmed in the afternoon.

In the memorandum they demanded immediate arrest of the attackers and withdrawal all false cases against the indigenous people.

30 lakh acres of land vested property

Source: The Daily star News

There are about 30 lakh acres of land treated as vested property in the country and most of them have been under the possession of vested quarters for the last 44 years, leaders of research and human rights organisations said yesterday.
But the government puts the figure at 6.50 lakh, they said at a press conference at the National Press Club.
They also said the proposed Vested Property Return (Amendment) Act 2009 is not acceptable, since it will protect the interest of only the vested quarters.
This Act does not have any specific provision regarding the return of the lands to the genuine owners, they added.
They also demanded that the government include specific rules in the proposed law, so that the real owners can get back their property.
They also called on the government to publish a gazette notification on the enemy properties as per the census list of 1974, so that the co-partners or the family members or the community members of the original owners can apply to the court to get back the properties.
Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Sammilita Samajik Andolon, Orpito Sampatti Ain Protirodh Andolon (Enemy Property Law Resistance Movement), HDRC, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA), Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Nijera Kori (NK), Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) jointly organised the press conference.
Speaking at the press conference, Justice Mohammad Gholam Rabbani demanded enactment of a fresh law enabling the original owners or their family members to get back their properties.
ASK Executive Director Sultana Kamal said the proposed act is inconsistent with the spirit of the communal harmony, the constitution and the humanity.
Prof Abul Barakat, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Shamsul Huda, Ayesha Khanam, and Khushi Kabir also spoke while Advocate Tobarak Hossain read out a written statement.
Tobarak Hossain said influential people with the connivance of local land officials had occupied these lands, and that even the land officials themselves illegally occupied a large portion of the vested property.

Hindu School girl abducted and forcefully converted to Islam at Chandaikona, Bangladesh

Picture (courtesy: HRCBM-Bangladesh): Ms.Shewli Rani Sarkar who was kidnapped and abducted by some Muslim perpetrators on 2nd of November,2009

a Minor Hindu School girl abducted and forcefully converted to Islam at Chandaikona ( Haldar para) Royganj under Sirajganj District on 2 NOVEMBER, 2009

HRCBM-Bangladesh , November 10 :: Ms.Shewli Rani Sarkar(15) – daughter of Chitta ranjan Sarkar (40) of Chandaikona ( Haldar para ) under Raiganj Thana Dist Sirajganj , a Hindu School girl ( SSC Examinee) abducted and forcefully converted to Islam.

Ms.Shewli Rani Sarkar who was kidnapped and abducted by some Muslim perpetrators on 2nd of November,2009 at about 8 A.M. in the morning while she was proceeding towards her private school teacher at Royganj Upazila of Serajganj district of Bangladesh. She was lifted forcefully by a microbus bearing registration No Dhaka Metro –Ga-11-9690 .

As per first information report (FIR) filed by Mr.Chitta Ranjan Sarkar - father of the victim on 2nd of November,2009 at Royganj police station it is stated therein that her minor daughter was forcefully captured by below noted perpetrators and picked her showing deadly arms to board her in a micro bus hired by those perpetrators at about 8 A.M. while she was going to take coaching with her class mate Ms.Shawn (14) and those perpetrators had gone to unknown destination with the victim from Chandai Kona Bus Stand.

Perpetrators are : 1. Abdullah al Mamun (26) son of late Altaf Hossain, 2. Md. Siddique Hossain (25) son of Sajjad 3. Driver Mintu Sheikh son of Farid Uddin, 4. Peerjada Azmal Hossain (35) son of late Fazar Ali, 5. Mohammd Biblab (23) son of late Matiar Rahman, all of village Sengati, P.S - Royganj, District-Serajganj, Bangladesh.As soon as the news of kidnapping of this victim came to knowledge of the local people they immeidately staged demonstration and barricated roads of the local area and protested against this type of holiganism.

Police was informed but police could not recover this victim girl till writing of this report.

Communicated with Shamsul Hoque, Officer-in-Charge of Royganj police station ( 01713374045 ) over telephone and came to know that he is trying to recover the victim girl soon. Mr.Shamsul Hoque also informed us that the micro bus which was hired by perpetrators has been recovered, but police could not recover the victim nor arrested perpetrators. A case No.01 dated 02.11.2009 under section 7/30 of Women and Children Repression Act has been started against those perpetrators at Royganj police station. The OC has sought assistance from the member of public through an advertisement published the daily Korotoa on 5 November 2009 .

Meanwhile , President Chandaikona Traders Association , A Halim Khan , mentor cum close associate of perpetrator has been fomenting communal tension against the local minorities . It is learn that Halim Khan , an associate of Islamist group , has been playing a dubious role in the community . It appears that, he may have a link with this women trafficking in the country .

The allegation that Muslim men entice Hindu and Christian women into marriage for reasons other than love, as part of an Islamist conspiracy, has recently been investigated by the Kerala Police and has brought out some ugly details," report The Indian Express ,October 1,2009

Under his instruction Sheuli Rani ( 15) was converted Islam and forced her to get herself married ( in the Nikahnama , Sheuli Sarkar was shown at age 20) with Abdullah Al Mamun (29) that was later registered in an affidavit of the Notary Public

The legal guardian of the victim informed us that some Islamic fundamentalist are also involved with this crime for forceful conversion as per Sharia Law. And those perpetrators and their associates are chanting slogans to support them as they believe that they committed no crime as per Islamic law.