CHTC for probing govt agencies
Condemning Tuesday's attack on the indigenous people in Naniarchar upazila of Rangamati, the International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) yesterday called for a judicial inquiry into the role of the local civil administration, law enforcement agencies, and the army in the hills.
"The CHTC is disturbed by repeated attacks," it said in a statement, expressing shock that "the arson attacks occurred in the presence and with the active participation of some army officials".
The incident came a day after a 14-year-old Marma girl was "raped and killed by Bangalees", said the statement signed by CHTC co-chairs Sultana Kamal, Eric Avebury and Elsa Stamatopoulou.
Bangalee settlers torched and vandalised 61 houses, shops and a Buddhist temple in Naniarchar after accusing Adivasis of destroying the pineapple gardens of Bangalees. However, it was alleged that Bangalees sowed the pineapple seedlings on the indigenous people's land.
In another statement, Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and its associate organisations demanded that the government punish the culprits and give compensation and security to the victims.
The CHTC said the government must rehabilitate the affected people and ensure safety and security of all indigenous people of Naniarchar and other areas in CHT.
Its statement said, "Many of these attacks can be traced back to disputes over land conflicts. The CHTC and other stakeholders have repeatedly requested the government to amend the Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act 2001 and make the land commission functional."
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