Adibashi Child raped at Nachole-Chapai-Nowabganj, Bangladesh

Adibashi (Indigenous people) child has been raped at Nachole-Chapai Nowabganj District on May, 1,
2008. Press conference held and Memorandum of appeal submitted to local administration for arresting the perpetrators on 18th May, 2008 (The daily Manabjamin dated 18th May, 2008)

The leaders of Adibashi Parishad of Nachole Pargana and Dighali alongwith protesters handed over a Memorandum of appeal to the Deputy Commissioner, Chapai Nowabganj on 18th May, 2008 for immediate arrest of rapist. In the evening they also hold a press conference at the auditorium of Zilla Parisahad. They alleged that a most powerful group with the collusion of police on behalf of the perpetrator trying to destroy the proofs of rape. They also alleged that the negative Medical report of rape so obtained collusively from Medical College at Chapai-Nowabganj is far from truth.

On May 1, 2008 the perpetrator- Abdus Salam (50) at village Peerpur Sahanapara allured the Adibalshi child to eat mealie and thereby misguided the victim child, raped in a shop pushing some clothes on her mouth. As a result the child became senseless and her bloody body was taken to Nachole Health Centre for admission and treatment. The victim was transferred to Chapai Nowabganj Sadar Hospital as the condition of the victim deteriorated.

Although police was informed in time, police neglected to arrest the perpetrator and he escaped.

In the memorandum of appeal it has been alleged that Md. Kowser Ali, brother of a Union Parishad member was indulging such heinous crime and he gave shelter of the perpetrator. Perpetrators, not only busy with offering bribe to local administration, but also trying to suppress the material facts with corrupted means. In the press conference Adibashi leaders– Benzamin Hamda, Bhagabat Tuvo, Nicholas Murmu were present.

HRCBM representative talked with M.H. Nuruzzaman – Superintendent of Police, Chapai-Nowabganj (Mobile No. 088-01713373813). He confirmed that although the case is true but the medical report of the Medical Board found negative and he can not interfere the medical board with regard genuineness of the incident of rape. He did not want to talk more and disconnected his telephone line.

Night long rape of mum and child in Kaligonj

Translated by Basu Bose, HRCBM

Translation of the news in ‘Daily Janata’ May 7th, 2008
Daughter strangled to death

Filed by Kaligonj reporter: The terrorists (*1) took turns through the night of May 1st and raped mum and child, in South Bhadarthi village, in Kaligonj thana. The child victim Bituni (14) is the daughter of Mr James De Silva and, was a straight ‘A’ student in Grade 8 at Saint Mary Girls School. She was gang raped throughout the night by these men and then they forced poison down her mouth, and held her mouth shut. After Bituni showed no sign of consciousness, the criminals thought she was dead, and ran away. Sima De Silva, Bituni’s mum, sought help from some local people to move the girl to a hospital, Bituni made good progress after receiving treatment at the hospital. Within a short time period, however, the rapists who had been tracking Bituni’s whereabouts arrived at the hospital and got into the recovery room of Bituni. They surrounded Bituni and strangled her. For a few days, James De Silva and family found it very difficult to file any legal charges- they were terrified due to ongoing threats, intimidation and harassment coming from these terrorists. (*1) Five days passed after this bone-chilling incident before Mr De Silva went to the local police station to file a case against the armed gang of rapists. Following details of the incident emerged according to Kaligonj thana case # 4 dated May 5th, 2008. In Tumulia union’s South Bhadarthi village in Kaligonj thana: Around 10.30 pm the culprits broke into Mr James De Silva’s house. Mehedi (22), Dulal (23), Russell (20), and three other men pointed guns at Mr De Silva’s wife Sima and raped her for two hours after when they detained her inside the bathroom. They then proceeded to rape Sima’s daughter Bituni, and, took their turns throughout the night. At the end of the ordeal, they poured some poison into Bituni’s mouth before fleeing the scene. According to some local residents of the village, Mehedi is son of Mr Abdul Aziz. Mehedi had been harassing Bituni daily on her way to the school. She had resisted these unwelcome advances – this was why Mehedi used arms (to break in to the house) to rape Bituni and her mum, and, to suffocate Bituni to her death. After having survived this unprecedented terror, and once the night was gone, the mum arranged to move Bituni in an almost unconscious state in to a local hospital. Bituni gradually recovered in the hospital after receiving treatment. Meanwhile, Mehedi and some of his friends had been watching Bituni’s whereabouts and later followed her to the hospital. They somehow, conned Bituni’s mum, and sent her out of the hospital to fetch some medicine for her daughter. When Mrs De Silva came back with the medicine, she found Bituni was held on Mehdi’s lap while she was failing in her struggle to breathe. As soon as they had noticed her being back in Bituni’s hospital room, they made their exit in a hurry. Mrs De Silva soon realised that during her absence from the hospital, Mehedi was working on the ways to throttle Bituni. In a desperate rush Bituni was soon removed to the Fortune hospital in Dhaka where the attending doctors declared her dead. Bituni’s body was buried on the same day she died in the cemetery of Tumulia church, without first documenting a report of ‘Death under suspicious circumstances.’ The gang raped mum, Sima, said: these men raped me at gunpoint first before taking their turns to rape my daughter and, then they tried to kill her by throwing poison down her throat. In the hospital soon after Bituni had recovered, they came and strangled her. Bituni’s dad, James, said: the murderers of my daughter are ‘terrorists’ of the most frightening kind- I want them tried. Had I been home on the day of the incident, I would have done every thing possible to protect the dignity of my wife and my daughter – even if I were killed by them. I don’t know why Lord has still kept me alive? Just come and see how I am barely passing my days. Mr Khandarkar Mohammed Manjir Rahman, the investigating officer & the officer in charge of the police station, said that he is trying to arrest the culprits.

Note (*1): Santrasis or terrorists in Bengali are local gangs (normally from the majority community in Bangladesh) who can be armed & routinely terrorise the helpless minorities with looting, vandalism, assaults, rape, mu

Indigenous rights organisations holds protest meeting against arson attack and land grabbing in CHT

Report submitted by: Kapaeeng Watch.

On 26 May 2008 a protest meeting against arson attack and land grabbing at Sajek of Rangamati and at Lama of Bandarban was organised by Bangladesh Adivasi Odhikar Andolon (BAOA) and Bangladesh Indigenous Student Action Forum (BISAF) at Liberation War Museum's auditorium in Dhaka.Secretary of BAOA Professor Mesbah Kamal chaired the meeting and general secretary of BISAF Sohel Hajong presented a paper on arson attack and land grabbing in Rangamati and Bandarban. Among others, presidium member of Gono Forum Pankaj Bottachariya, indigenous rights activist Uddipan Chakma, organising secretary of BAOA Ms. Kerina Hasdak, vice president of BISAF Khokoneswar Tripura, press secretary of BAOA Rakhi Mrong, member of BAOA Soumitra Dev, organising secretary of Centre for Manipuri Studies Pari Chingthum spoke in the protest meeting. Ms. Jannat-e-Ferdousi, a senior activist of BAOA conducted the whole programme.Speakers of the protest meeting condemned the land grabbing in Lama upazila (sub-district) in Bandarban hill district by an NGO named Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) and recent arson attack on 7 indigenous villages at Sajek in Baghaichari upazila under Rangamati hill district by Bengali settlers. They demanded proper rehabilitation of Jumma victims and to return back their lands grabbed by DORP and Bengali settlers.Speakers said that about 150 houses were burnt down in the arson attack on April 20th at Sajek under Rangamati hill district. Taking part in the discussion Pankaj Bottachariya said that all temporary military camp should be withdrawn from CHT in urgent basis as per CHT Accord. In his speech he also demanded to ban all activities of DORP, a NGO working in Bandarban hill district, as it is doing harm to Tripura community, an ethnic group of the Jumma peoples. He urged the progressive sections of the citizens to come forward and join the struggle to establish fundamental rights of Jumma Peoples. He also said that at present suppression on the PCJSS leadership is going on in CHT. Dozens of leaders of PCJSS were arrested and several false cases were lodged against them. He urged the government to invite PCJSS to the ongoing dialogue as its candidate had won parliamentary seats soon after the independence of the country.Professor Mesbah Kamal expressed that political leaders are doing repeated mistake regarding the CHT issues. Sajek arson attack on indigenous villagers and land grabbing by DORP are direct result to the wrongdoing of political leaders. He urged government to take proper initiative to implement CHT Peace Accord. He also demanded to provide rehabilitation and compensation to the victims of these incidents.Replying to the allegation of land grabbing, DORP consultant Mr. Osman Goni said that they took lease this land in accordance with the regulations and controversy would be resolved legally. He alleged that unnecessary tension has been intensified regarding this issue by certain quarters. No sooner his speech, the audiences protested against his comments. They accused DORP arguing that the leasing of the land was done in violation of traditional rights of indigenous peoples and the provisions of the CHT Peace Accord.Finally the following points have demanded from the meeting:

• Conduct judicial enquiry to the Sajek arson attack and punish the culprits involved to this incident.
• Ban the activities of DORP in Bandarban hill district
• Withdraw all temporary military camp from CHT
• Make the Land Commission functioning as per CHT Accord
• Establish separate land commission for plain land IPs
• Rehabilitate recently settled Bengali migrants outside of CHT
• Implement CHT Accord immediately in letter and spirit.

She survived gang rape, poison, then was choked to death: A Christian minority girl gang rape and murdered in Bangladesh

A translation of the news in The ‘Daily Janakantha’ Dhaka, Bangladesh
Sunday, 18 May, 2008 (4th Jadish, 1415)



A picture of Miss Bituni (Ashru) De Silva (14) in her school uniform depicted in the Daily janakantha news publication.



Translated by Mr. Basu Bose


For Bituni (Ashru) De Silva, a Christian minority schoolgirl, being gang raped wasn’t enough; she had to be killed in the end.

The terrorists (*1) “Mehedi’ gang, broke into her room in the dark of night, held weapons against her face, raped her and then poured poison into her mouth.

Before raping Bituni, the same group of terrorists also, gang raped Sima,

Bituni was taken to the local hospital in a critical condition. However, the same group of rapists later traced her to the hospital bedroom, choked her, and made sure she never breathes again.

This bone-chilling incident took place in South Bhadarthi village, in Kaliganj thana, in the district of Ghazipur. On Saturday, James De Silva, father of Bituni, the murdered gang rape victim, disclosed the news at a press conference with Dhaka Reporters Unity. While speaking Bituni’s parents broke down completely.

Mr De Silva stated that these terrorists are so powerful that even five days after the incident, they are freely moving around in a heroic manner. A no arrests have been made so far; they have started intimidating Bituni’s family members. And because the family is afraid, he and his family members are hiding from these rapists and murderers.

Mr. De Silva read out a written statement at he press conference. Other family members present were wife, Sima; his second daughter Setu (11); and two sons Jay (7) and Arnab (3).

Mrs. De Silva, who was also gang raped, spoke in a broken voice- she said that the terrorists broke into their home on the night of April 30th. As she came out of her bedroom, they pressed a gun at her and grabbed her. And they took their turn in raping her in front of her daughter, Bitumen (an ‘A’ student at eight grade.0

After Bituni came forward to try to save her from further degradation, they took Mrs De Silva into the bathroom and kept her inside. And then they started raping her 14-year-old daughter. At one stage, they poured some poisonous liquid inside Bituni’s mouth, and, left her barely conscious body on the floor.

Mrs De Siva telephone her husband, James, who was in Dhaka, and informed him of what happened. Meanwhile, she had taken her gang rape victim daughter to the local hospital for treatment and care. Bituni started recovering at a slow pace. And was making good progress She was also got her speech back and begun speaking clearly up until 9 am.

The gang of rapists (Medic (240, Dulal (28), Russel (20) Sohail and Jessik) managed to arrive at the hospital and were found near Bituni. As the hospital staff had become aware of the gang rape incident, Mehedi and his gang used some pretext and persuaded Bituni’s mother (herself a gang rape victim of the same men) to go out to buy some essential medicine for Bituni. This gave them the chance to the gang for choking Bituni to death. When Bituni’s mother came back with the medicine, she found that Mehedi and his men sitting quietly and watching the unconscious body of Bituni on the hospital bed. The desperately helpless mother started frantically shaking Bitui’s body while these men quickly sneaked out of the room.

Following this horrific incident, Mrs De Silva made calls from a cell phone to inform the local news paper staff and the law enforcement authorities that Mehedis have killed Bituni by choking her to death in the hospital.

Mr James De Silva complained at the press conference that when he went to the police station to file charges, he found that Bhumulia U...C. Chairman, Mr Abu Bakar Banu, acting on behalf of the accused and pressuring him to drop the charges. As well, he was hurling profanities at Mr De Silva right inside the grounds of the police station.

Mr De Silva further complained that he found out that five days after the incident, the local police officer in charge, Mr Khandakar Sisthan, has made up a case by himself without any consent of the De Silvas. Mr Khandarkar has also entrusted himself with the responsibility of investigating the case.

In view of the above circumstances, James De Silva demands that:
Justice is done for the heinous crimes committed on his daughter;
The accused be arrested without delay; and a rapid trial held to serve exemplary punishment to those responsible for the crimes; and.
The self appointed local investigator is replaced.

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Note: (*1 Santrasis or terrorists in Bengali are local gangs normally from the majority community who can be armed & routinely terrorise the helpless minorities with looting, vandalism, assaults, rape, murder etc.)

DU survey reports 61 percent indigenous people in Bangladesh face discrimination

Report: The Dailystar News

A survey on 332 indigenous people shows about 61 per cent of them are discriminated against in different ways while 76 per cent fall victim to violence and threats.
The findings of the survey conducted by Dhaka University teachers Prof Dr Nazrul Islam and Prof Dr Asif Nazrul under a project of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bastobayan Sangstha, were revealed at a discussion meeting at the WVA auditorium in the capital yesterday.
The survey was conducted on 332 indigenous people in Jessore, Mymensingh, Chapainawabganj, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Pabna, Rangamati, Sylhet and indigenous students of Dhaka University between March and April last year under the project Strengthening Human Rights Support through Enhancing Access to Justice for Vulnerable Groups and Advocacy for Reform.
The findings showed about 18.67 per cent of them were evicted from their ancestral land. Besides, 6.02 per cent participants in the survey believe that justice cannot be ensured by court while 5.72 per cent of them are ignorant about legal process.
The speakers at the meeting said most indigenous people are not aware of the laws that guarantee their rights. Besides, human rights organisations also fail to reach out to the victims who badly need their legal support, they said.
Member of the national committee of Manobadhikar Bastobayan Sangstha Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelly, who presided over the meeting, said the government should formulate and implement new policies to ensure the rights of indigenous people.
Executive director of the organisation advocate Elina Khan said coordination among the organisations working for the welfare of indigenous people is very important to provide them with necessary assistance.
Representatives of different organisations that provide legal support for indigenous people were also present.

CHT Land Grabbing: a NGO ‘DORP’ occupies orchards of the indigenous people in Bandarban

Report Submitted by: Aungkyew Mong, Coordinator Kapaeeng Watch

CHT Land GrabbingA NGO 'DORP' occupies orchards of the indigenous people in BandarbanVery recently a non-government organisation named Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP) run by non-indigenous Bengali outsiders occupied the orchards of the indigenous Tripura community at Tongo Jiripara of Soroi union under Bandarban sadar upazila in Bandarban district.It is leant that the DORP set fire on orchards around 35 acres after cutting its trees planted by the indigenous villagers and hang up a signboard 'Swasthagram DORP' (Health Village Dorp) on that land. DORP is opposing indigenous villagers to enter to this area and threatening, otherwise, to lodge case with police station. Local Tripura villagers are passing days with fear. DORP claimed that the lands have been leased out to the DORP. However, chairman of the Bandarban Hill District Council (HDC) Mr. Thanzama Lusai and district administration said that there is no opportunity to give leasing out any land as per CHT Peace Accord.It is worth mentioning that indigenous Tripura villagers have been living in this area alongside of Sualok-Lama road 20 kilometers away from Bandarban district headquarters. Though some villagers have title deed, but most of the indigenous villagers have been using these lands for generations as per their tradition and customs without government registration.Kshetra Tripura (65), an indigenous villager said that he got settlement of 2 acres of paddy land in 1982 and built up a mix-variety orchard on 10 acres of its surrounding grove land. DORP occupied all the paddy and grove land, he added. Another villager Rongsaha Tripura said that he built up orchard on 5 acres of land 5-6 years ago. Now he became nervous seeing his orchard has completely been burnt to ashes. All the villagers including Jilya Moni Tripura, Rangkoma Tripura, Bikram Moni Tripura informed that their lands and orchards have been occupied by the DORP.Regarding setting fire, Mr. Nurul Alam, a labourer of the DORP said that they 20-25 labourers set fire on the orchards after cutting its plantation as per direction of the DORP executive director Mr. A H M Noman, field officer Mr. Iyub and Mr. Malek. As a day labourer, they have nothing to do.Referring to this incident, executive director of DORP Mr. A H M Noman said that they got lease around 150 acres of grove lands including this land. Accordingly, DORP undertook plan to build up an orchard and hospital on this land. He claimed that this land is not owned by Tripura villagers.It is found after scrutiny of the land documents at deputy commissioner's office that 25 acres land has been leased out in the name of a group of Bengalis including coordinator of DORP Babul Kumar Odhikari, A H M Noman and Nurul Islam in 2000. However, according to the CHT Peace Accord of 1997, no lease can be made without prior approval of the concerned HDC. According to the HDC Act of 1998, any lease without prior approval of HDC is completely illegal. Chairman of the Bandarban HDC Mr. Thanzama Lusai said that CHT Affairs Ministry has been asked to cancel all these leases given after CHT Peace Accord without prior approval of the HDC. He added that necessary actions would be taken after conducting inquiry on this DORP incident.Officer-in-charge (OC) of Lama police station Mr. Abul Kasem said that he heard this incident that DORP occupied land of the Tripura community. It is being looked into, he added. Chairman of the Soroi union Mr. Mohammad Ali said that DORP incident is nothing but to occupy the land of the Triupra villagers.

[This report has been prepared on basis of news published in Bengali daily 'Prothom Alo' on 18 May 2008]

10 families of indigenous community evicted by Baralekha tea estate in Moulavibazar, Bangladesh

Report submitted by: Aungkyew Mong, Coordinator Kapaeeng Watch.

10 families of indigenous community evicted by Baralekha tea estate in MoulavibazarComplaint has been received that 10 families of indigenous Khasi community of south Shahbajpur union under Baralekha upazila in Moulavibazar district became penniless losing their homesteads and panpunjies (farmland of betel-leaf). They alleged that they are victimized of the deception of Rahmania tea estate authority.Indigenous Khasi families claimed that they signed an agreement with Rahmania tea estate authority on 29 April 2006. According to the agreement, Mr. Talbi Lamin, montri (headman) of the Khasi community and Sohrab Hossain Khan have taken on 100 acres of land lease for 12 years for cultivation of betel-leaf from the Rahmania tea estate authority in lieu of taka 1,200,000 (around US$ 17,000). Accordingly, Talbi Lamin, Obet Khasi, Nineton Khasi, Adhir Khasi, Nutli Khasi, Bishu Khasi and Pius Khasi erected houses and cultivated betel-leaf.Talbi Lamin (55) alleged that Sohran Hossain Khan and caretaker of Rahmania tea estate authority Dilip Sarker forcibly took signature from him on white paper last 16 April and ordered them to leave orchard soon. He also said that violating the agreement, they incited a group of miscreants to evict their houses on 19 April. As a result, they took shelter neighbouring Singur panpunji under Kulaura upazila. He lodged a case with Baralekha magistrate court.Obet Khasi (40), Bilan Khasi (35) and Adhir Khasi (30) said that they became penniless losing their homesteads and livelihood. The owner of the tea estate Mr. Machum Ahamed Chowdhury has not been reached for his clarification. On the Other, Sohran Hossain denied to take signature on white paper from Talbi Lamin.