“Give us our land back.”

Demanding that the government return the land of Sahebganj-Bagda sugarcane farm in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj to the Santal community, hundreds of Santals staged a protest rally yesterday.

Under the banner, “Sahebganj-Bagda Farm Bhumi Uddhar Sangram Committee”, the rally was held at Shapmara Government Primary School at Gobindaganj upazila around noon.

Activists of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad, Bangladesh Indigenous Union and Adivasi-Bengali Songhaty Parishad also participated in the rally.

They also brought out a procession on the Dinajpur-Gobindaganj Highway to realise their demand.

Members of the Santal community also placed a seven-point demand urging the government to stop establishing an economic zone on their ancestral land and withdraw “false cases” filed against the indigenous community.

They also demanded trial of those involved in torching Santal homes and killing the Santal men, and compensation for the families.

Rabindranath Saren, president of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad, said they would go for a tougher movement if their demands are not met.

Filiman Baske, president of Sahebganj-Bagda Farm Bhumi Uddhar Sangram Committee; Shahin Rahman; presidium member of CPD, Rangpur; Jafrul Islam Pradhan, joint secretary of Indigenous Union Committee, Romila Kisku, Olivia Mardi and other indigenous leaders also spoke.

On November 6, 2016, a tripartite clash broke out between the Santals, staff of Rangpur Sugar Mills, and police over the eviction of the indigenous people from the disputed land. The clash left three Santal men dead and 20 others, including nine policemen, injured.