chtnews.com
News No.
17/2014, Wednesday, May 28, 2014
THE
headmen, village chiefs and victims of land grabbing in Lama Upazila submitted
a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister seeking redress against land grabbing,
forcible eviction and religious conversion.
In the
memo, submitted on 21 May, they accused Md. Anisur Rahman aka Laden and Md.
Mohsin Badal from Chokoria, Cox’s Bazar, and many other unidentified
individuals from home and abroad of grabbing lands and forcible eviction of
indigenous Murung, Tripura and Marma people in Sangu Mouza (No. 285) and
Yangsha Mouza (No. 284) in Fasiakhali Union of Lama
Upazila,
Bandarban district.
They
said, ‘The so-called “Laden Group” has dislodged 74 families from their
ancestral lands, including 27 families in Mongbichor Para, 17 in Amtoli Murung
Para, 12 in Raipod Tripura Para and 18 in Chiniziri Para under Fasiakhali Union,
and occupied their lands.’
“The
group is also attempting to grab the lands of another 221 families including 12
families in Sapmara Ziri Para, 26 in Goyalmara Muktaram Para, 30 in Goyalmara
Balantor Tripura Para, 20 in Goyalmara Muslim Para, 32 in Ramgoti Para, 12 in
Bonpur Paichapru Para, 39 in Wakrau Para, 10 in Naya Para, 10 in Koitra Ziri
Para and 30 in Headman Para.” the memo stated.
It
further said that the land grabbers have already taken over 1,065 acres of
homestead land and orchard in Sangu Mouza and 60 acres in Kathalchara Tripura
Para under Yangcha Mouza for creating rubber plantations.
“As a
result 93 Tripura families are facing eviction.” the memo added.
They
said that because of land grabbing activities by Laden Group, they are not
finding enough land for continuing normal production, and added, ‘Due to want
of alternative arrangements, we are now facing starvation.’
The memo
also accused Laden Group of proselytizing Tripura and Murung children to Islam
by allurement.
Signed
by 237 persons, the memo demanded that the government takes urgent and
necessary measures against the land grabbers including Laden group.
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