Thousands of incensed Garos demonstrated all day in the Modhupur forest area, protesting the killing of 25-year-old Piren Slan, who joined a group of protesters Saturday to resist the government's forest conservation and eco-tourism project.

"I want justice for my husband's death," Shita said, bursting into sharp wails of grief. The 20-year-old woman was left on her own with two minor children to take care of in Jainagachha village, about 50 kilometres north of Tangail town.

The demonstrators carried the body of Piren in a procession and shouted slogans against the conservation plan that they fear will threaten their living.

The forest department has been building a wall to ring the Modhupur forest to save it from what officials said were wood theft and land grab in a plan the Garos described as destructive to their traditional lifestyle.

Locals alleged Joynal Abedin Babul, the project contractor and local BNP leader, was present at the scene where police and forest rangers opened fire, killing Piren instantly and injuring 25 others including women and children in an incident that prompted protest from rights groups.

"The moment we reached the spot, the police and forest guards fired on us. We did nothing. We had no firearms. We were only shouting slogans," said Binita Mankin, a witness to the killing that created outrage in the locality.

Main opposition Awami League lawmaker Abdur Razzak Bhola threw his weight behind the Garos in their demonstration at Talki Bazaar for a quick end to the 3,000-acre project the forest department took up in 2000.

Garo leaders demanded a judicial probe into the incident and demanded immediate transfer of the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and divisional forest officer.

Albert Mankin, frontline Garo community leader, and Ajay A Mri, convenor of the "committee on movement against wall construction", addressed the Talki Bazaar rally.

"We will take a hard-line, forcing the government to stop the project for which one of us died," Ajay told The Daily Star.

DISCONSOLATE WITH GRIEF

The tragedy left Shita with her 3-month daughter Ratri Nakrek and 3-year-old son Utsha Nakrek.

She did not know Piren, a banana plantation worker, joined Saturday's demonstration against the construction of the wall.

"Shita will have to struggle on with her children," said Sailo Slan, mother of Piren, tears welling up in her eyes.

Abu Jafar Alam, officer-in-charge of Modhupur Police Station, said police filed two cases -- one against the forest guards who were present at the scene and fired and the other against the Garos for "unlawful assembly".

Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police visited Modhupur Police Station yesterday.

The 11-party left alliance, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Ain O Salish Kendro, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bastobayon Sangstha, Bangladesh Christians Association, Sammilito Samajik Andolon and Bangladesh Chhatra Union protested the killing and attacks on the indigenous people.