Hills remain tense

Source: The Daily Star News

2 bodies sent to hospital for autopsy; indigenous people displaced as 9 villages burnt by 'Bangalee settlers'

CHT affairs State Minister Dipankar Talukdar face a blockade imposed on Gangaram Mukh-Bongaltali (Battala) by agitated indigenous people yesterday. Dipankar headed for Bongaltali to know the follow-ups of Saturday's violence. Photo: Jasim Majumder Shantimoy Chakma, back from Baghaihat, Rangamati

Anger continued to brew in the remote Baghaihat area over Saturday's killing of indigenous people and arson attacks on their houses, with the indigenous people holding the army responsible for the incidents.

The dislodged indigenous people also blamed Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Humayun Kabir for the incidents and attacked him yesterday when he was returning from the spot along with the state minister for CHT affairs.

They damaged Humayun's car in the presence of law enforcers, minister, Rangamati deputy commissioner and police super at Gangaram Mukh and Hazachhara.

They alleged that the army from Baghaihat zone raided their villages in commando style and opened fire at them in the presence of the UNO.

At least 1,500 indigenous people of 300 families in nine villages were displaced after Bangalee settlers allegedly burnt down the houses of indigenous people on Friday night and Saturday.

The authorities have so far confirmed the deaths of two members of the ethnic community. The bodies were sent to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital for post mortem.

The indigenous people claimed that six persons, including Noapara Buddha Bihar monk Loko Priya Bhikkhu, are still missing. They alleged that the Bangalee settlers concealed a few dead bodies.

During a visit to different villages at Baghaihat it was found that at least 200-300 houses of indigenous people were completely burnt. Fire and black smoke were seen everywhere.

The villages that came under attacks are Gangaram Mukh, Guchchhagram, Hazachhara, Jaralchhari, Dane Baipachhara, Bame Baipachhara, Simanachhara, Chhurung Nala and Gulakmachhara.

The panic stricken indigenous people from the nine villages have taken shelter in Bongaltoli and Battala villages, some 8-10km away from the places of occurrence. At present, they are living under open sky without food as they could not save anything when they fled their homes.

A number of the injured indigenous people alleged that the settlers set fire to about 40 houses on Friday night. The next morning at about 10:00am, the settlers along with the army again went to their villages and set fire to their houses. The army cordoned their villages and fired at them, leaving two people including a female dead on the spot, they said.

Army Sergeant Rezaul, who was inured when an indigenous person chopped him with a machete, was sent to Chittagong Military Combined Hospital, sources said.

Baghaihat zone Commander Lt Col Wasim yesterday denied the allegations and said the land dispute between the indigenous people and Bangalees has been there since long.

He said he along with the UNO, the UP chairmen and leaders of Bangalee and indigenous communities tried to settle the matter, but all initiatives went in vain as both Bangalee and indigenous people did not pay heed to the solutions.

Wasim said a vested interest group might have been behind the recent incidents.

Talking to reporters yesterday, Baghaichhari UNO Humayun Kabir also refused the allegations of his involvement with the incident.

State Minister for CHT affairs Dipankar Talukder, CHT affairs Taskforce Chairman Jyotindra Lal Tripura, Rangamati and Khagrachhari Hill District Council chairmen Nikhil Kumar Chakma and Ruhity Karbari, Rangamati DC Sourendra Nath Chakrabarty and police super Masud-ul-Hassan visited the villages yesterday.

Dipankar talked to the villagers and family members of the victims and assured them of impartial judicial investigation into the incident.

He also assured both Bangalees and indigenous people of proper compensations.

Local indigenous people demanded withdrawal of the army from Baghaihat.

They told the state minister that Bangalee settlers are constructing structures on their land in some areas, which triggered the dispute over the ownership of the land.

Meanwhile, the United People's Democratic Front yesterday shifted its protest programme to block roads and waterways to February 23 because of the ongoing SSC examinations in Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts.

Update on Baghaihat attack against Indigenous people

Source: PCJSS

Today (on 21 February 2010) State Minister of Ministry of CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukdar visited the Baghaihat area where at least 10 Jumma villages were burnt to ashes. The Jumma villagers resisted the state minister at Bangaltali village putting barricade on the road around 10.00 am. The agitated Jumma villagers encircled the State Minister alleging that local administration did not take any action against Bengali settlers who burnt down the Jumma’s houses. At a stage, the agitated Jumma villagers damaged the jeep of Upazila Executive Officer of Baghaichari upazila A H M Humayun Kabir in Ansar Camp area. However, the UNO was not inside the vehicle.

Dipankar Talukdar assured the indigenous people that action would be taken against those responsible for this incident within the next seven days. However, he, without indicating the persons responsible to this heinous attack, said that there are some criminals in both the indigenous and Bangali people, who practice ill politics involving people from the groups. He added that the criminals benefit from the practice but the general people suffer.

State Minister was accompanied by Chairman of Task Force on Rehabilitation of Returnee Refugee and IDPs Mr. Jotindra Lal Tripura and Police Super of Rangamati district Masud-ul-Hassan.

In Bangaltali village, Jumma villagers brought one dead body of indigenous people, who was killed in army firing on Saturday’s attack, before the minister and placed their demands, including withdrawal of section 144 from the area. It is mentionable that section 144 is still going in Baghaihat area. Hence the Jumma villagers cannot move and cannot trace out dead body of the deceased. Jumma villagers claimed that they heard that army gathered 7 dead bodies of indigenous villagers. More dead bodies might also be concealed by the army.

So far no relief from government side or non-government has been provided. Most of the indigenous villagers took shelter into the deep forest fearing further attack. Victims of the indigenous families became totally ruined. Most of them were passing days without food. They were staying on open sky.

Massive communal attack on Jumma villages by military forces and Bengali settlers in Baghaihat area in Rangamati

Source: PCJSS

A. Introduction:

On 19-20 February 2010 massive communal attack on Jumma villages was made by military forces and Bengali settlers at Baghaihat area of Sajek union under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati district. It is reported that at 8 Jumma villagers including a woman were killed and 25 Jumma villagers wounded in this attack. It is learnt that around 200 houses of Jumma villagers including Buddhist temple and church were completely burnt into ashes.

B. Beginning of the incident

On 19 February 2010 afternoon a group Bengali settlers went to the Gangaran Duar area and put pillars on the land of indigenous Jumma villagers for construction of house there. At that time, the Jumma villagers protested and opposed the Bengali settlers.

Again at night around 8.30 pm hundreds of Bengali settlers led by leaders of so-called Sama Odhikar Andolon under full protection by a group of army from Baghaihat zone of 8 Bir Bengal gathered at Gangaram Duar area and started to set fire on the houses of Jumma villages. At that time, at least 35 houses including 7 shops, a church and a UNDP-run village centre, in three Jumma villages of Gangaram Duar, Chaminichara and Baluchara were burnt down. Jumma villagers alleged that Bengali settlers also looted the valuables while they were burning the houses. The villagers fled into the jungle when the attack took place.

After the first attack, the villagers returned to their villages the next morning and gathered in Gangaram to protest it. The Bengali settlers returned in the morning on 20 February 2010 equipped with sharp weapons, machetes and sticks.

Further, at around 10.00 am on 20 February 2010 tension mounted throughout the area while the army and Bengali settlers ordered the Jumma villagers to leave the area, but they refused to comply. At around 10.00 am the army started to beat the Jumma indiscriminately. One Jumma villager chopped an army named Rezaul while beating him brutally and then the army fired leaving him spot dead. Following this, the army opened fire into the Jumma villagers indiscriminately without any sort of provocation, leaving at least 8 dead and 25 wounded. They army also arrested three persons from there.

Since the start of firing, Bengali settlers with the help of army set fire on Jumma houses at Hajachhara, Guchchha Gram, Balughat, Simanachhara, Baipaichhara, Suranganala and Kerekkaba villages. It is reported that at least another 160 houses were torched at that time. Bengali settlers also burnt Banani Bana Vihar, a Buddhist temple. The monk of the vihara Ven. Purnabas Bhikkhu, fled the temple without taking meal. One statue of Buddha was looted and another one which was given by Thai government was looted. As they continued the arson attacks, the indigenous community began resisting them. During this resistance, six indigenous persons were injured.

It is still not clear how many Jumma villagers were killed in the attacks. However, five of the dead were identified. They are-

1) Ms. Buddhabati Chakma (34) w/o Uttam Chakma of Baghaihat Gucchagram;

2) Mr. Laxmi Bijoy Chakma (30) s/o unknown of Golakmachara;

3) Mr. Liton Chakma (35) s/o Karunamoy Chakma of Baibachara;

4) Mr. Bana Shanti Chakma (28) s/o unknown of Gangaram Duar and

5) Mr. Nutunjoy Chakma (28) s/o unknown of Golakmachara.

Some of the injured are-

1) Shanta Shil Chakma, s/o Dhanaram Chakma of Chaminichara;

2) Mrittunjoy Chakma, s/o unknown of Jarulchari;

3) Sushil Jibon Chakma (32), s/o Kinamani Chakma of Chaminichara;

4) Amar Jiban Chakma (30), s/o Majiban Chakma of B-Block of Bangaltali;

5) Mr. Nibesh Chakma (35), s/o unknown of Chaminichara;

6) Mr. Dari Chakma (40) s/o unknown of Nangalmara;

7) Jitendra Chakma (35), s/o unknown of Chaminichara

8) Mr. Prem Lal Chakma (26) s/o unknown of Chaminichara.

It is learnt that the dead body of Buddhabati Chakma was brought at Baghaichari police station for postmortem. But dead bodies of other deceased are yet to be recovered. On 20 February 2010 afternoon the army imposed section 144 in the area to prevent Jumma villagers from taking out protest demonstrations.

C. Background of incident

Bangladesh military forces undertook plan to settle down the infiltrated Bengali families along the roadsides of Sajek road from Baghaichari to Gangaram Mukh in 2005. It is also mentionable that thousands of indigenous Jumma families have been living in this area for decades long. Hence, Jumma villagers of these areas have been protesting against this illegal settlement programme. Despites the protesting, in 2008 Bengali settlers illegally constructed some houses at Gangaram area on the land owned by Jumma villagers. At a stage on 20 April 2008 the Bengali settlers with the direct support of army of Baghaihat zone attacked on the 7 villages of indigenous Jumma peoples and at least 76 houses of indigenous villagers were completely burnt to ashes.

Again, since starting of January 2010, Bengali settlers with the support of Baghaihat army zone resumed expansion of their settlement in Sajek area under Baghaichari upazila in Rangamati district. A number of houses have already been erected by the Bengali settlers occupying Jumma villagers’ land.

The villagers, under the banner of Sajek Bhumi Rakkha Committee, submitted a memorandum to the Baghaichhari UNO on 10 January 2010 with an ultimatum of 16 January 2010 to return them their lands. As the deadline expired without any fruitful result on 16 January, Jumma villagers started their agitation and started to boycott Baghaihat market from 18 January 2010. On the other, on 25 January 2010 the PCJSS sent a letter to the Home Minister with copy to State Minister of CHT Affairs Ministry and other concerned government authorities demanding to stop settlement prgramme and to withdraw Bengali settlers from Baghaihat area. However, government did not take any measure in this regard.

D. Media Report

It is reported that most of news media primarily reported fabricated news. For example, the Daily Star in its internet edition on 20 February mentioned headline of news as “Criminal killed in gunfight with security forces in Rangamati”. However, it replaced later with “2 indigenous men killed as troops open fire in Rangamati”. The Prothom Alo stated it as firing between Paharis and Bangalis. Most of the electronic media aired news in favour of Bengali settlers. Most of the media reflected statement of military authority as well as administration that went against the Jumma peoples.

E. Reaction

Processions have been brought in Rangamati, Khagrachari and Dhaka protesting against the attack. At 11.00 am on 20 February 2010 PCJSS brought out procession in Rangamati. PCJSS claimed that Bengali settlers led by so-called Sama Odhikar Andolon (a fanatic organisation of Bengali settlers) and Parbatya Bangali Chhatra Parishad torched the houses of the tribal people in a pre-planned way.

On the other, Pahari Chatra Parishad (Hill Students Council) also brought out procession at Dhaka University campus in Dhaka.

Bangladesh: Christian student killed for less than a dollar

Source: AsiaNews.it

A gang of thugs attacked Rema Amit, 26, and a friend who was in his company. The spoils of harvest is a phone and 70 cents. Police have already identified and arrested the members of the group.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - An armed gang has killed one tribal Christian student and injured a friend, to steal a phone and a tally of less than one euro. The two young men were on their way home from festivities for the 100th anniversary of St Joseph's Catholic Church, located in the district of Netrokona - Dhaka Division - about 173 km from the capital. The police confirmed the identification and arrest of all members of the group involved in the murder.

The incident occurred on 15 February in Mohammadupur, division of Dhaka. Rema Amit, 26, a student of the Institute of Science and Technology at Dhanmondi in the company of his friend Sohag, had just got off the bus, returning from the festivities for the Jubilee of St. Joseph Church. On the wayhome, in East Raja Bazar (Dhaka), the two friends were attacked by a group armed with knives and pistols, who ordered them to hand over money and valuables.

At the young men’s refusal, the assailants struck them with a large knife and then stole their money which amounted to a total of 70 taka (about 70 euro cents) and their mobile phones. Sohag, the survivor, said that "the group followed us, in a private car" and attacked them "near Amit’s home."

A police patrol on the spot immediately intervened arresting one of the assailants, Sujan (aka Monir) 24, who was in possession of a large knife. A few hours later the agents stopped the three other members of the gang, Habib, 24, Ershad alias Munna, 26, and Monirul, 25, seizing a pistol and ammunition.

Indigenous leaders want primary edn in mother tongues

source: The daily star News

Indigenous leaders have called on the government to start primary-level education in their mother languages and demanded an announcement by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this connection on International Mother Language Day.

The leaders placed the demand while they were being interviewed by this correspondent yesterday regarding their expectations on the occasion of this year's Ekushey February.

Ujjal Smrity Chakma, coordinator of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) Khagrachhari, said members of 13 minority indigenous communities, who speak in 10 separate mother tongues, had been demanding for long to start primary education in their own languages to ensure their rights.

“I call on the prime minister to declare her government's roadmap to start mother tongue-based primary education and I expect an announcement by her on February 21," he said.

Indigenous leader and former Khagrachhari Hill District Council chairman Monindra Lal Tripura said as per Article-3 of the Parbatya Zila Parishad Act 1989, the government should start primary education for indigenous children in their mother languages.

“We expect the official declaration in this connection on February 21."

Another indigenous leader Shaktipado Tripura said the government signed a peace accord with Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) on December 2, 1997. As per Article-33 of the deal, the government should ensure primary education of all indigenous children in their mother languages.

Sudha Sindu Khisha also said as per the peace accord, it was mandatory that the government ensures at least primary-level education for indigenous children in their mother tongues.

"Actually, we included the section aimed at ensuring quality education, increasing children's ability to learn, having a clear conception of their own languages and tradition, stoppage of child repression, child marriage as well as child labour, decreasing dropouts and increasing attendance in schools," he added.

Another PCJSS leader Sudhakar Tripura said if indigenous children learn their own cultural tradition through their mother tongues, schooling could have become more enjoyable. They might come to schools regularly.

Chakma language is being used at Chakma villages, Kokborok language at Tripura villages while Marma language at Marma villages, he added.

JSS leader Jatindra Lal Chakma said the government needs to mother tongue-based primary education in CHT area.

"It will encourage our indigenous children to go to schools and learn practically."

He expects that the incumbent premier will deliver her commitment to begin primary education in indigenous languages.

Minority protest in Bangladesh: Join the Grand Rally

Bangladesh "Jatio Hindu Jubo Mohajut" is organizing a Manob Bondhan" on 19th February, 2010 at 10 am to protest continuing atrocities again countries Hindu minorities.
The organization is inviting all conscious people to participate in the "Manob Bondhan"
at MUKTANGGON (GPO), Dhaka-1000 on 10 AM BDT, Friday, February 19th, 2010.
Gang rape, abduction of minority women and girls has become common in Bangladesh. That couple with looting and land grabbing of minority property threatens the very existence of the society.
If you like to JOIN the RALLY, Please visit the url below and RSVP.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=324977617528

HINDU TEMPLE ATTACKED, IDOLS DESTROYED IN B'DESH: OFFICIAL

Source: HRCBM-Bangladesh

Miscreants in Bangladesh's Narayanganj district vandalised an ancient Hindu temple, with assailants destroying six idols, a top official said on Saturday.

A gang of 30-35 men attacked the Sonargaon temple and broke six idols, said Md Yunus Ali, the local police chief.

He said the incident took place while the devotees were holding a religious function at the Sree Sree Rakshakali Temple at Ashrafdi village.

The miscreants vandalised the temple and four houses, injuring at least five people, in Narayanganj's Sonargaon subdivision yesterday, the private bdnews24 news agency said.

A case is underway, the police official was quoted as saying in the report. The Sonargaon police chief said religious programme began on February 2.The gang attacked the temple following an altercation between a devotee and three youths of the village.

Muslims demolished a Hindu Temple at Sonargoan

February 6, 2010 Leave a comment Go to comments

By William Gomes

On 5th February a large group of 35 Muslims thugs fully demolished the 6 deities and attacked on neighboring Hindu houses.

They demolished the deities and injured several while the Hindu devotes were busy in prayer they attacked on the Shri Shri Kali Roksha Mondir at Asrafdi village in Sonargoan.

The Muslim thugs demolished the Shivla Devi, Gonga and other four deities said Niti a Hindu devote who was injured in attack.
As the Hindus informed the local police , police came lately so the Muslim thugs were able to run away , the officer in charge denied the allegation but admit that he knows about the incident.
He added that we will investigate and take proper initiative.