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.

Vested Property Return (amend) Act: 'Consult with HR bodies, experts'

source: The Dailystar

angladesh Mahila Parishad yesterday expressed concern over the move to pass the propsed Vested Property Return (amendment) Act 2009 in parliament without consulting with experts, human rights organisations and representatives of the victims who lost their lands through loopholes of the vested property return act.

In a statement, the Parishad said the cabinet has recently approved the Vested Property Return (amendment) Act 2009, which would soon be placed in parliament.

But the fact is that no discussion took place with the representatives of the victims, legal experts, civil society members, researchers and rights activists before finalising the law, it added.

Those who have been harassed and lost their lands and properties due to the loopholes of the Vested Property Return Act would again fall victim to vested quarters and their rights would not be protected if the proposed amended act is passed without any changes, the Parishad said.

So, it called on the government to consult with the experts and representatives of the victims and bring changes to the amended act as per their suggestions with a view to protecting the rights of minorities.

UPDF cadres kidnap 2 innocent villagers in Barkal

Source: PCJSS CHT

On 9 November 2009 at 7:00 am an armed group of UPDF numbering 9 led by Laxmi Ranjan Chakma (26) s/o late Brisha Ketu Chakma, village- Aima Chara Mukh under Aima Chara union of Barkal upazila kidnapped 2 innocent villagers from Shuvalong area under Barkal upazila of Rangamati district. The persons kidnapped are as follows: (1) Mr. Pattar Moni Chakma (38) s/o late Kina Chan Chakma of village- Subari Pada of Bhushan Chara union of Barkal upazila. (He is also a member ward no.4 of Bhushanchara union council); (2) Mr. Joy Kumar Chakma (37) s/o late Dina Mohan Chakma of village- Boiragi Para of Bhushanchara union. It is learnt that on that day at above-said time Pattar Moni Chakma and Joy Kumar Chakma including others were coming towards Rangamati from their home with banana for selling by a country-boat. When they reached Furamukh area of Shuvalong union under Barkal upazila, they along with others were stopped by UPDF armed cadres. UPDF cadres asked the boat-drivers whether they had yearly pass or not. At that time, UPDF cadres seized also the cell phones of the boat passengers. At one stage, UPDF cadres kidnapped the two persons. While leaving the spot UPDF cadres said to the boatmen to contact them after 7 days for the kidnapped persons.

Remove discrimination against Harijans

Source: The Daily Star News

Speakers at the triennial council of Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad (BHOP) yesterday called for removal of discrimination against Harijans or low-caste Hindus.

Speaking as the chief guest, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan pledged to work towards ensuring their rights.

"I know, you have a lot of problems such as low and discriminatory pays, lack of facilities and job insecurity. But I tell you this government is pro-people and believes in equal rights of all as enshrined in the constitution. We shall raise your issue in the next parliament session," he said.

BHOP organised the council in association with Manusher Jonno Foundation and FAIR, a local NGO, on the Dhakeswari National Temple premises in the city.

There are around 15 lakh Harijans in Bangladesh and mostly they work as cleaners of city corporations and municipalities. But their wages are very low -- ranging from Tk 600 to Tk 1200, BHOP leaders said.

As people consider them 'untouchable', they undergo immense sufferings in public places. They live in the colonies dubbed as 'sweeper colony'. Even when someone gets highly educated and applies for jobs, they are not invited for tests because of their status, they noted.

Shahjahan Khan, also an adviser to Madaripur chapter of BHOP, said, "We all -- Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims -- fought together during the liberation war. We all are equal."

But society is cheating the Harijan community, he said, adding that the prime minister herself wants to eliminate all discrimination from society.

Addressing as special guest, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin MP said there should not be any discrimination among people in society. This government is working to end all discrimination.

BHOP Secretary General Nirmal Chandra Das said Harijans keep the cities and towns clean, but they are forced to live in shabby and congested colonies.

"Nowadays, people from other communities are filling up the posts of sweepers in the city corporations and municipalities in exchange for bribes," Das said.

He demanded that the wages of sweepers be increased considering the market price and uniformity be maintained in all the city corporations and municipalities in this regard.

Manusher Jonno Foundation Programme Manager Rezwanul Karim said the government should frame a law to remove all discrimination against them.

Akhtaruzzaman of FAIR, Kazal Debnath of Dhaka Mahanagar Puja Udjapon Committee, and Harijan district and divisional level leaders from across the country also spoke.

Ethnic minority people demand CID probe of Kartik Kisku murder

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation & New Age

Nov 2nd, 09: Ethnic minority people in Rajshahi on Sunday demanded immediate arrest of and punishment for the killers of their elderly leader Kartik Kisku.They made the demand from an hour-long human chain participated by over a hundred indigenous people under the banner of Jatiya Adibashi Parishad from 11:00 am.Their leaders also demanded CID investigation into Kisku’s murder in village Joyda Adarpara under Godagari upazila of the district last week.Addressing the human chain, leaders of the ethnic people said hired goons of local influentials and land grabbers had killed Kartik Kisku, 65, who was a leader of the Jatiya Adibashi Parishad.Kisku went missing Tuesday afternoon. Locals found his body in a canal on Wednesday.The speakers also complained that incidents of such killings and attack on ethnic minority communities had increased in the northern region in the recent times.They also called upon the administration to take steps to protect their lives and property from the land grabbers.They expressed grave concern that organised gangs, backed by local influential people, were killing ethnic minority people and driving them out from their homesteads in a planned way.They also alleged that the influential people of the area were trying to cover up the incident and criticised the police for their inaction.

Tripura woman raped by miscreants at Sonaichari in Chittagong

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

On 30 October 2009 an indigenous Tripura woman (19 years) was become a victim of gang raped in Sonaichari of Sitakunda under Chittagong district. It is learnt that, in the hilly region of Keshabpur of Sonaichari Union under Sitakunda upazila (sub-district) a 19 years young girl from Rangamati (who was there to visit their relatives) was gang raped by local Union Parishad (Local government council councilor) member Jahur and his 7 associates. Forcefully she was taken by them in the hilly region at evening.She was recovered by her relatives unconsciously at next morning and then taken to Sitakunda police station. After filling a case at Sitakunda police station she was examined by doctors.Case was filled against Jahur Member (45), Suman (28), Hannan (32), Nuruzamman (42), Shamim(32), Selim (34) and Mona (45). All of them were inhabitant of Keshabpur village under Sonaichari Union of Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong district. It is mentionable that Sitakunda area is exclusively indigenous Tripura inhabitant area especially in mountain region of Sitakunda and very unfortunately it has become a common feature of this area. They are very poor and depend on forest resources.