JS caucus suggests action against local admin, cops
A parliamentary caucus on indigenous affairs has recommended that legal action be taken against local administration and police for illegally evicting Santal people at Gobindaganj in Gaibandha in November last year.
Punishment should be awarded to those who were responsible for killing three Santals during an eviction drive in Gaibandha on November 6, suggested the caucus's Coordinator Prof Mesbah Kamal at a views-exchange meeting yesterday.
He came up with the recommendations based on the findings of a delegation that said indigenous people were evicted, their houses were torched and cases were filed against them in collusion with the local administration.
The delegation -- which includes top officials of the caucus, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and different other non-government rights organisations -- found this after visiting the affected area on December 13.
Mesbah Kamal, also a technocrat member of the caucus, presented the findings of the delegation and the caucus's recommendations at the meeting in the capital's Cirdap auditorium.
Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate in his investigation has found involvement of three police personnel and some local miscreants in setting fire to Santal houses during the eviction drive, according to news reports.
Referring to the news reports, Mesbah said, “Trial of these three police personnel and some miscreants is not enough. Those, who gave the directives to commit the heinous incident, must also be punished.”
Because of the eviction, lives of around 2,500 to 3,000 Santals have been affected, said Mesbah, while reading out a written statement.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) lawmaker Nazmul Haque Prodhan, also member of the caucus, urged all to establish equal rights of all irrespective of religion, race and caste.
Another caucus member and Workers Party of Bangladesh lawmaker Tipu Sultan said Santals children are so panicked that they do not want to go to schools fearing further attack.
Another caucus member Sanjeeb Drong, also general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, claimed that the state was not acting properly to protect the rights of indigenous people.
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