Development crucial for ethnic people to build inclusive society

Source: The Daily Star News

Speakers tell seminar

Mick Gooda, aboriginal and social justice commissioner of Torres Strait Islanders, speaks at a seminar organised by Brac in association with Australian High Commission at Brac Centre in the city yesterday. On his right are Australian High Commissioner Dr Justin Lee, Brac Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin. Photo: STARStaff Correspondent

Development activities must reach ethnic minority communities for building an inclusive society and ensuring true democracy in the country, speakers at a seminar said yesterday.

“If Bangladesh is to realise its full potential, its all citizens must have equal rights and be able to contribute to its development. It is our obligation to ensure that we reach those who are marginalised and excluded. We must aim to build an inclusive society,” said Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of Brac.

“The small ethnic groups together constitute less than two percent of the total population of Bangladesh. For true democracy and inclusive development, this numerical insignificance should not in any way be marginalised.”

The seminar titled 'Access and equity: Issues and challenges for rural development,' organised by Brac in association with Australian High Commission, was held at Brac Centre in the city.

Chakma Raja Debashish Roy said, “Indigenous people are disadvantaged and excluded from development activities and policy making. The government and NGOs must work together to ensure rights of the indigenous people.”

Mick Gooda, a descendent of aboriginal Gangulu people of Central Queensland and social justice commissioner of Torres Strait Islanders, presented a keynote paper at the seminar.

Mike is now in Dhaka since March 27 on a five-day visit to the country.

Four other papers titled 'Indigenous access to services', 'Managing the environment and natural resources for the benefit of indigenous communities', 'Economic development of indigenous communities' and 'Maintaining indigenous culture and tradition, including bilingual education' were also presented at the seminar.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin and Australian High Commissioner Dr Justin Lee were present at the opening ceremony of the programme.

Implement peace deal to stop unrest in hills

Source: The Daily Star News

PCJSS leaders urge govt

Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) chief Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma, who is also chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, addresses a rally at the inaugural session of the 9th national council of PCJSS on the premises of Rangamati gymnasium yesterday.Photo: STAROur Correspondent, Rangamati

Leaders of Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) yesterday reiterated their demand for full implementation of the CHT peace agreement and urged the government to curb all sorts of anti-peace activities in the hills.

They said due to delay in implementation of the peace deal, various anti-peace forces are spreading extremism, militancy and fundamentalism in the hills.

The PCJSS leaders were addressing a rally on the premises of Rangamati gymnasium in the town organised on the occasion of 9th national council of PCJSS.

Inaugurating the three-day council, the PCJSS chief and CHT Regional Council chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma, said the ethnic people in CHT are passing their days in extreme insecurity.

He blamed the indifference of security forces for the recent killing and arson attacks on indigenous people at Baghaihat and Khagrachhari.

Calling upon the government to take immediate steps for proper execution of the CHT deal, Larma said, “We do not want to see any further delay. Implement the accord fully and as early as possible.”

Presidium member of Gono Forum Pankaj Bhattacharya, secretary of Workers Party Anisur Rahman Mollik, member of Communist Party of Bangladesh Shah Alam, information and publicity secretary of PCJSS Mongal Kumar Chakma and Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) president Udayan Tripura also addressed the meeting.

Pankaj Bhattacharya said militancy, fundamentalism and extremism are spreading allover the CHT as full implementation of the treaty is being delayed.

Pankaj said those who failed to keep peace in CHT must be reprimanded for deaths of two indigenous people during the recent ethnic violence.

Leaders and workers of PCJSS, CHT Mohila Samity, Hill Women's Federation and Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) from three hill districts joined the council.

Food ration in hills: Most beneficiaries of public money Bangalee settlers

Source: The Daily Star News

The government has to spend over Tk 100 crore a year to provide food rations to 40,335 families, mostly Bangalee settlers living in 81 cluster villages in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

And it has been shouldering the expenditure for years without solving the problems in CHT region.

A total 26,220 Bangla-speaking families living in the 81 cluster villages in Khagrachhari and Rangamati districts have been getting the ration since October 1988. The remaining 14,115 families are repatriated indigenous refugees and members of the Shanti Bahini who have been given the ration since 1998.

Many said most Bangalee families are quite well-off for getting the food ration of 85kg rice a month each, but the government has never stopped providing it.

In 1986, when massive violence erupted in the region HM Ershad's government built the cluster villages for Bangalee settlers near army camps to ensure their safety and security and later decided to provide them with food ration initially for three years.

On the issue, some Bangalees living in Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati said the government has not increased the number of recipients for years.

"Population has increased in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Now they should review and increase the number of ration recipients," said Abdul Kalam, who moved to Baghachhari from Dighinala, Khagrachhari, three years ago.

Indigenous recipients comprise those who returned from the Indian state of Tripura after the CHT Peace Accord was inked in 1997 and brought an end to the decades of bush war in the hilly terrain.

Over 65,000 members of the 12,170 ethnic families have been receiving 5kg rice each for adults and 2.5kg for minors every week since January 1998.

As per the peace accord, the repatriated indigenous people were supposed to get ration for only one year by when they were supposed to get back their land and be rehabilitated by the government.

However, the government is yet to rehabilitate many of them and ensure their safety and security.

"We want safety and security of our lives and we want to get back our land," said Santashito Chakma Bakul, general secretary of the Repatriated Jummah Refugee.

"Since our return to the country in 1998 Bangalee settlers have attacked us 11 times," he said, adding, "If the government can ensure these, we will not need the rations anymore."

A total 1,945 members of Shanti Bahini have the ration cards and have been receiving 100kg rice a month each as per the CHT Peace Accord.

In 2003, the BNP-led four-party alliance government stopped food rationing only for the indigenous people for six months. It, however, resumed it amid protests.

Bengali settlers constructed makeshifts on the Recorded lands of Jumma people at Pablakhali in Baghaichari

Source: PCJSS, Chittagram Hill Tract

Picture (courtesy: PCJSS, CHT): Bengali settlers constructed makeshifts on the Recorded lands of Jumma people at Pablakhali in Baghaichari

Very recently Bengali settlers in the name of Bangladesh Muktijuddha Punarbasan Society (Bangladesh Freedom Fighters Rehabilitation Society) constructed around five hundred makeshifts on the recorded lands of Jumma people near Bhangamura army sub-zone camp at Pablakhali area under Khedarmara union and Amtali union of Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati.

It is also learnt that on behalf of Bangladesh Muktijuddha Punarbasan Society, its district president Md. Bacchu Mia and district commander Mokhlesur Rahman submitted application to Land Minister and State Minister for CHT Affairs on 5 January 2010 to get settlement of following 3,200 three thousand two hundred acres of lands situating at the following places -

(1) Along the roadsides of Longadu to Naniarchar road;

(2) Along the roadsides of Merung to Maini road

(3) 500 acres of land from Chibe Aga to Kathaltali

(4) 175 acres of land of Amtali and Gulshakhali mouzas under Longadu and Baghaichari upazila respectively

(5) Pablakhali area.

It is noted that without prior approval of the concerned Hill District Council (section 64 of its Act) settlement, lease, sale and transfer of any land is restricted. In this connection, the Land Ministry issued circular in 1989 and the MoCHTA in 1998. In addition, since 2003, MoCHTA issued a letter to stop settlement of land in CHT.

In spite of the above circular and letters about and settlement, on 27 January 2010 Md. Motahar Hossain, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Rangamati Hill District issued a letter to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Longadu upazila (sub-district) to send inquiry report on the matter of the application.

In the mean time, in September 2009 Bengali settlers affixed a signboard of Bangladesh Muktijuddha Punarbasan Society occupying reserve forest land of Pablakhali range under Baghaichari upazila. As continuation of this land grabbing, Bengali settlers occupied grove land and paddy land of indigenous villagers at this area and constructed around 500 makeshifts at Pablakhali in Baghaichari upazila.

Among others, the land of Rupantu Chakma (35), Amar Kanti Chakma (38) and Pritimoy Chakma (42) were forcibly occupied by Bengali settlers. Jumma villagers alleged that Bengali settlers destroyed crops of their farmlands. Bengali settlers ordered Jumma villagers to leave the area; otherwise severe consequences would have to be faced. Tension is has been prevailing in this area, particularly at Pablakhali area due to threatening of Bengali settlers. At least six Jumma villagers removed their children and aged to safe area.

On the other hand, it is learnt that all the leaders of the Bangladesh Muktijuddha Punarbasan Society are fake freedom fighters. In order to get sympathy and patronization from the administration as well as government, they themselves claimed as freedom fighter. It is also learnt that Bengali settlers included some Chakma as freedom fighter though they are also not freedom fighter.

On 12 March 2010 Chairman of Baghaichari upazila Mr. Sudarshan Chakma and Vice Chairman Diptiman Chakma, Upazila Nirbahi (Executive) Officer of Baghaichari upazila Basirul Haque Bhuiyan, Upazila Executive Officer of Langau upazila Khairul Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Baghaichari and Longadu police station Nayeem Uddin and Julfikar Mahammad Gajjali, Chairman of Khedarmara and Atarakchara union Sachitra Chakma and Mangal Kanti Chakma visited the spot. No leader of the Bangladesh Muktijuddha Punarbasan Society was present during that time. Those who were present at that time claimed that they are general member of the Society. But they failed to show certificate of freedom fighter. However, they claimed they were relatives of freedom fighters and landless poor.

As they occupied land illegally, the visiting team ordered the Bengali settlers to destroy the makeshifts and to vacate occupied lands within 15 days. Otherwise, action would be taken against them.

It is important to note here that the settlers occupied the lands with the secret support of the army authority of Bhangamura Army sub-zone camp under Langadu region and unless the army authority stops its patronization, the settlers must not dismantle the makeshifts. Rather they may set fire on them at any moment so that they can caim reief and rehabilitation for the advantage of their permanent settlement there.

Minority Hindu Girl Gang Raped

Source: The Daily Star News

Criminals gang-raped a schoolgirl at a remote village in Baufal upazila of Patuakhali district on Friday night.

Police arrested Basir, 25, and Hanif, 30, of Kaina village in the upazila for their alleged involvement in the crime.

A Class Nine student of Dharandi village under Patuakhali Sadar upazila went with her brother Shyamol Chandra to his father-in-law's house at Rajnagor village under Baufal upazila, police and locals said.

After passing several days there, the two siblings started for their house by a hired motorbike on Friday night. When they reached Dhauravanga area a gang of 8/10 criminals allegedly led by Forkan and Masun waylaid them. They assaulted Shyamol, tied his hands and legs, forcibly took the girl to a nearby field and raped her.

Hearing her scream, locals informed police who recovered her and to Baufal Upazila Health Complex.

Police arrested two of the alleged rapists while others managed to flee.

A case was filed with Baufal Police Station in this regard on Saturday.

20 injured as Bangalees, Santals clash

Source: The Daily Star News

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between indigenous people and Bangalees yesterday over a piece of land belonging to a Christian missionary establishment at Baldipukur in Mithapukur upazila.

Of the injured, 10 were rushed to Mithapukur upazila health complex and Rangpur Medical College Hospital. They include two leaders of local Santals-- Silvions and Bipin.

Twelve of the injured are Santals and the others are Bangalees.

Mithapukur police said the clash broke out as the authorities of St Mary's Christian Missionary establishment started constructing a boundary wall on a plot of land adjacent to Adibashi Primary School run by it and Shah Abul Kashem High School established on land donated by it.

At this, a number of Bangalees attacked Santals with lethal weapons and the latter made a counter-attack with bows and arrows.

Contacted, Leo Deshai, priest at St Mary's Church, alleged that president of the managing committee of the high school Habibur Rahman led the attack.

He claimed that on March 18, the upazila administration removed some business establishments from the land and handed it over to them as per a court order.

But Habibur Rahman said the school authorities wanted the land to remain open as a playground of the school.

"And when construction of boundary wall on the land started, local people opposed it. This enraged Santals and they attacked the locals with bows and arrows,” he claimed.

Later, Additional District Magistrate Ruhul Amin Khan and Mithapukur Upazila Parshad Chairman Zakir Hossain visited the spot and asked both the sides to maintain status quo concerning the land.

US report sees some improvement in HR situation in Bangladesh

Source: The Financial Express

Despite some improvement in the government's human rights record, there were slight increase in the number of extrajudicial killings by security forces, custodial deaths, arbitrary arrest and detention, and harassment of journalists in Bangladesh, according to a Human Rights Report 2009 released by U.S. Department of State Thursday.

With the return of an elected government, reports of politically motivated violence increased 3.3 per cent, said the report prepared by Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

The failure to investigate fully extrajudicial killings by security forces, including the deaths in custody of alleged mutineers from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) border force, remained a matter of serious concern, the report said.

Violence against women and children remained a serious problem, as did trafficking in persons. Violence against religious and ethnic minorities still occurred, although many government and civil society leaders stated that these acts often had political or economic motivations and could not be attributed only to religious belief or affiliation.

Members of the security forces committed numerous extrajudicial killings. The police, BDR, military, and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) occasionally used unwarranted lethal force.

According to government statistics, there was a 3 per cent increase in the number of killings by all security personnel, and the government did not take comprehensive measures to investigate these cases despite public statements by high-ranking officials that the government would show "zero tolerance" and would fully investigate all extrajudicial killings by security forces, the report added.

According to media reports, local and international human rights organizations, and the government, law enforcement officials were responsible for 154 deaths, 129 of which were attributed to crossfire.

There were hundreds of daily and weekly independent publications. Although there were significant improvements over the previous year, newspapers critical of the government experienced some government pressure.

Attacks on journalists continued to be a problem. There was an increase in individuals affiliated with the government or ruling party harassing, arresting, or assaulting journalists. According to Odhikar and media watchdog groups, at least three journalists were killed, 84 were injured, one was arrested, 45 were assaulted, 73 were threatened, and 23 had cases filed against them during the year. According to some journalists and human rights NGOs, journalists engaged in self-censorship for fear of retribution from the government.

The government generally respected this right in practice. Religion shaped the platforms of some political parties, but the government was sensitive to the religious sentiments of most citizens. Violence against religious and ethnic minorities was a problem occasionally.

Discrimination against members of religious minorities, such as Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, existed at both the governmental and societal levels, and religious minorities were disadvantaged in practice in such areas as access to government jobs, political office, and justice. The secular AL government, however, appointed some members of the minority communities to senior government and diplomatic positions. In the new cabinet, three of the 38 ministers were non-Muslims.

On January 22, the country held elections to the newly created upazila parishads, or subdistrict councils, throughout the country. There were reports of violence, intimidation, vote rigging, and low voter turnout. The candidates backed by the ruling party won most of the upazila posts, although the election was not officially party based. The election commission organized repolling in a number of upazilas where elections were suspended due to violence.

According to Odhikar, there were 454 reported incidents of rape during the year, including 211 against women and 243 against children. According to human rights monitors, the actual number of rape cases was higher because many rape victims did not report the incidents due to social stigma. Prosecution of rapists was not consistent.