Jumma people refrain from attending the meeting of Land Commission chairman in Baghaichari and Longadu

Source: PCJSS

On 5 and 6 December 2010 Land Commission chairman Justice (rtd.) Khademul Islam Chowdhury visited Baghaichari and Longadu upazila under Rangamati district respectively and organised opinion-sharing meetings there. However, there was very low participation of indigenous Jumma people in the meetings.
It is reported that in the Longadu meeting held on 6 December, no Jumma was present there. One indigenous woman who is Upazila Officer of Women Division and one head teacher of local high school who went there to collect textbooks for his students were picked-up to attend the meeting. The meeting was basically attended by around 100 Bengali settlers who were settled down in CHT in 80s on Jumma’s land. The Land Commission was created to resolve the land disputes mainly arisen due to forcible occupation of Jumma’s land by the Bengali settlers.
The meeting was held at Longadu upazila rest house with the Longadu Upazila Nirbahi Officer in the chair. In his speech, Khademul Islam Chowdhury said that land disputes will be resolved as per applications that were already submitted to the Commission and every body who did not yet apply can submit their application seeking resolution of land disputes. The land disputes will be resolved as per CHT Regulation of 1900 as CHT Accord stipulates, he said.
On the other, in the Baghaichari meeting held on 5 December at upazila hall, no headman and public representative except Upazila Chairman and two Vice Chairmen attended the meeting, though all the headmen and public representatives under Baghaichari upazila were invited to this meeting. However, widows irrespective of Bengali and Jumma who went to upazila office on that day to collect their widow allowances and Jumma officers and employees were compelled to attend the meeting. Besides, a so-called reformist leader of PCJSS Mr. Sushil Bikash Chakma and a village head named Bishwapriya Chakma were attended the meeting.
It is mentionable that after appointment as Chairman of Land Commission chairman, Justice (rtd.) Khademul Islam Chowdhury started to visit to hill districts and held opinion-sharing meetings with district and upazila level officers during his visit. At a stage, during tour of the three hill districts on 3-5 August 2009, he unilaterally declared to conduct land survey without having discussion with and decision of Land Commission and even violating the provision of CHT Accord. Further, he issued public notice asking affected land owners to lodge application on land disputes with Land Commission. This notice was issued without the decision of the Commission.
With this backdrop, all sections of the citizens including CHT Regional Council and PCJSS and also three circle chiefs protested against the unilateral and controversial activities of Land Commission and also demanded removal of Mr. Chowdhury from post of the Chairmanship. However, despite the huge protest from the all sections of the citizens, Mr. Chowdhury still continues his controversial activities including visit to the hill districts and holding opinion-sharing meeting without holding formal meeting of the Commission.

No scope of differences over CHT accord implementation: Sajeda

Source: The Daily Star News

Deputy leader of the parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury on Thursday said there was no scope of misunderstanding with regard to implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord.
She was talking to reporters at the inauguration ceremony of Cultural Diversity Festival 2010 at Bangabandhu International Convention Centre.
‘The Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs ministry is working hard. We have already withdrawn army troops from different parts of the hill districts and we are trying to solve the land disputes in the area,’ Sajeda said.
The ceremony was jointly organised by Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs ministry and CHT Development Facilities of United Nations Development Programme.
Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, also convenor of CHT Accord Implementation Committee, Dipankar Talukder, CHT affairs state minister, Jatindra Lal Tripura lawmaker and chairman of CHT Refugee and IDP Task force and ambassadors and high commissioners of Australia, Canada and Denmark, among others, attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Dipankar Talukder urged all to cooperate in implementing the CHT accord.
Jatindra Lal Tripura hoped that within two years, the accord will be fully implementated.
Discussants at the function said that CHT is composed of different ethnic groups with their different languages, religions, culture, customs and ways of life.
About 120 stalls of 62 ethnic minority groups are showcasing their traditional outfits, food, arts and agricultural products at the festival.
The four-day cultural festival 2010 with the theme ‘Unity in Diversity’ has put up exhibition, fair and cultural shows.

Mass signature campaign in two more districts

Source: The Daily Star

Jatiya Adivasi Parishad organises a mass signature campaign in front of Dinajpur Press Club yesterday demanding constitutional recognition to the indigenous people. Photo: STAR

Hundreds of people of Dinajpur and Joypurhat districts yesterday took part in a mass signature campaign demanding constitutional recognition of the indigenous community.

The campaign organised by Jatiya Adibashi Parishad, was held in front of Dinajpur Press Club and Abul Kashem Maidan (ground) in Joypurhat.

In Dinajpur, the indigenous people gathered in front of the press club in the morning. Before start of the mass signature campaign a human chain was formed demanding constitutional right of this community.

In Joypurhat, hundreds of people of the district put their signature for constitutional recognition of the indigenous people.

At the rallies, the speakers said positive efforts needed to help the indigenous community. Recognition of indigenous people in the constitution would help improve their lost, they observed.

The community suffer greatly for high rates of unemployment, mindless imprisonment, drug abuse, alcoholism and diseases, all due to sheer negligence, the speakers said.

They urged the prime minister and her government to come to the aid of this disadvantaged community of the country.

The month-long mass signature campaign also started in Chapainawabganj and Thakurgaon on Monday.

Call to empower indigenous women to end discrimination

Source: The Daily Star

Some eminent personalities yesterday stressed the need for initiatives of both government and non-government organisations to empower indigenous women for betterment of their life standard and end discrimination against them.

Indigenous women fall victim to different sorts discriminations and deprivations severely. The government and non-government organisations should work together for their capacity building to end discriminations and improve their life standard, they said.

The remarks were made at a seminar styled “Indigenous women: Issues and challenges” organised by the Indigenous People Development Services (IPDS) at the at the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Bangladesh in the city.

Speaking as the chief guest, HE Dr Stefan Frowein, ambassador and head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh, said indigenous women are victims of double discrimination, first for being women and then for coming from ethnic minorities.

The government, civil society, development partners and indigenous and non-indigenous communities should work together to forge effective policies and programmes to eliminate discrimination against women and empower them, he said.

He laid emphasis on necessary financial and political support and dialogue at the policy-making level to address the problems of indigenous communities.

Frowein said the European Union has been the major contributor in addressing the vulnerability of indigenous communities in the country by providing € 16 million funding for the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Development Fund and € 6.6 million for education programmes in CHT.

Criticising the country's political leaders, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman said, “No one raises voice when hundreds of indigenous people are evicted from their land and hundreds of tress from the country's forests are cut down.

“But several hartals are called for political purpose when any political leader vacates their residence.”

While featuring different forms of discrimination against indigenous people, he said they never get proper justice despite repeated violation of their basic human rights as they are poor and come from minority communities as discriminatory system is prevailing in the country.

Mizanur added that his commission would place recommendations to authorities concerned to include provision in the constitution recognising indigenous communities.

Presenting the keynote paper, Information Commissioner Dr Sadeka Halim placed some recommendations for empowering indigenous women.

These include reservation of seats for the indigenous women in parliament, introduction of reserved seats in local government bodies and ensuring participation of indigenous women in local and national development.

IPDS President Sanjeeb Drong said according to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, indigenous women are victims of a 5-layer discrimination, firstly for being a woman, secondly for being indigenous, thirdly for being indigenous women, fourthly for being poor and marginalised and finally for being migrated women.

There are around 15 lakh indigenous women in the country, he informed.

Hill Women Federation former president Choitali Tripura, Joyenshahi Adivasi Parisad Chairman Ajoy A Mree and A'chik Michik Association President Sulekha Mrong, among others, were present at the function.

'Punish killers of Hindu family members'

Source: bdnews24.com

Chittagong, Nov 19 (bdnews24.com) — The national platform of religious minorities have demanded trial of the perpetrators who brutally killed 11 members of a Hindu family by burning them alive seven years ago.

The incident took place at the home of Tejendra Sheel at Sheelpara of Dakkhin Sadhanpur of Banshkhali Upazila on the midnight of Nov 18 in 2003.

Bangladesh Hindu, Buddha, Christian Oikyo Parishad on Friday held a protest rally and a silent procession demanding punishment of those guilty.

Two surviving sons of Tejendra — Bimal Sheel and Nirmal Sheel — were also present at the rally that took place at Andarkilla.

Bimal filed a murder case following the killing.

Speakers at the rally expressed frustration over the delay in holding the trial process as well as the court's decision to grant bail to the accused.

Nirmal on Friday told bdnews24.com that police arrested 14 of the 31 accused, who admitted setting fire to the house as part of a plan hatched by BNP leader and Kalipur Union chairman Aminur Rahman Chowdhury.

He said seven of the 14 have recently secured bail and "they are now threatening us."

"We also objected to the final charge sheet which did not include the name of the mastermind Aminur Rahman Chowdhury."

The Criminal Investigation Department has submitted the witnesses' statements after investigation to the public prosecutor.

Nirmal demanded formation of a judicial probe commission, adding, "The present prime minister vowed to bring the culprits to justice but nothing has happened so far despite the fact that seven years have elapsed."

'Mysterious' fire destroyed the palace of Chakma Chief 'within minutes'

Source: The Daily Star News

Remnants of the palace of Chakma Circle Chief Raja Debashish Roy after a mysterious fire ravaged the site in Rangamati town on Wednesday night. Inset, a locker recovered from the fire-damaged rubbles. Photo: STAR

The fire on Wednesday night totally destroyed the palace of Chakma Circle Chief Raja Debasish Roy.

The fire fighters could save nothing as the fire burnt the palace to ashes within half an hour.

A five-member inquiry committee headed by additional deputy magistrate (ADM) Md Nurul Alam Chowdhury, was formed soon after the incident.

The probe body was asked to submit report within three days.

No member of the royal family was present during the fire. Raja Debashis Roy was in Bangkok and his daughter was in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, no staff of Raja Debashis Roy could say from where the fire originated. They could not say the extent of damage. Also nobody could say what precious assets were burnt.

Fire Brigade officials also did not give any report about how much property of the Chakma dynasty was burnt in the fire.

“No staff at Chakma Rajbari could estimate the extent of damage. Only Raja Debashis himself would be able to give exact information about the loss,” Abul Hossian, an official of district fire station told this correspondent.

However, he said that at least half of the valuable royal assets could be saved if a fire boat and two divers were at the fire station.

Subrata Chakma, personal secretary of Raja Debashish also said that he did not know how the fire was originated and what types of properties were burnt and how much loss was caused.

He said some valuable assets including a chair which was used by Queen Kalindi Rani, books, documents and some important papers on 'Raj Punnah' were there when the fire broke out.

The palace almost remain vacant when Raja Debashsis goes out, he added.

“One thing astonished me that the fire engulfed the palace from all directions and burnt it within a few minutes", Bitu Chakma, councilor of Rangamati municipality said.

“We could not identify the reasons behind the fire as nobody could say anything,” Babul Uddin Sarder, officer in-charge (OC) of Kotwali police station, said.

State minister for CHT affairs ministry Dipankar Talukder, Chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council Nikhil Kumar Chakma, Rangamati Region Commander and Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Sourendra Nath Chakrabarty visited the spot yesterday.

Additional police and army were deployed around the palace after the fire.

Restore '72 constitution

Source: The Daily Star

HRCBM leader stressed the need for ensuring secularism in the constitution

Speakers at a discussion yesterday categorically demanded restoration of the '72 constitution to establish a non-communal democratic and repression-free country and protect human rights.

They made the call while speaking at the discussion meeting styled "Characteristics of '72 constitution and necessary and unnecessary amendments" organised by the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee at the Bilia auditorium in the city yesterday.

Speaking as the chief guest, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said the path of returning to the '72 constitution has been widened through the Supreme Court verdict.

Referring to a BNP leader's comment that the Supreme Court does not have the power of constitution amendment and it can be done in the parliament only, the minister said the Supreme Court is the guardian of the constitution. So, it is not necessary to go to parliament in this regard after the verdict.

“We will republish the constitution as per the Supreme Court verdict that dropped out some provisions of the constitution. After republishing, we will take it to the parliament for further opinions,” Shafique added.

About cancellation of registration of religion-based political parties, the minister stated that after republishing the constitution, the Election Commission (EC) will scrutinise that ideology of any political parties whether that may conflict with the constitution or not. If conflict arises, the EC will certainly cancel registering.

“All the political parties must have consistency in their ideologies with the constitution,” he said.

Speaking as the special guest, noted jurist Barrister Amir-ul Islam suggested reforming the caretaker government system saying, “There should be permanent ombudsmen comprising of retired bureaucrats of different ministries to appoint the chief adviser and other advisers of caretaker government.”

The practise of appointing advisers from the judiciary is jeopardising both the institutions---judiciary and caretaker government, he said.

Barrister Islam suggested inclusion a provision that will declare the process of taking state power unconstitutionally as sedition.

Necessary provisions should be included that will mention punishment of sedition and crime against humanity, he said.

Prof Ajoy Roy, president of Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities, stressed the need for ensuring secularism in the constitution to establish non-communal Bangladesh.

Presiding over the function, Justice Gholam Rabbani, president of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, demanded necessary amendments in the constitution to recognise the indigenous people.

The committee coordinator Shahriar Kabir viewed that the fundamentalist groups will surely wiped out if the '72 constitution restored.

He demanded state declaration of November 4 as the National Constitution Day and laid emphasised preserving rights of franchise of eunuchs in the constriction.

Committee Vice President Shamoli Nasreen moderated the function while Dr Shahdeen Malik and Tureen Afroz of the Law Department of Brac University also spoke.