Take responsibility of Gaibandha Santals

Human rights activists yesterday demanded a high-profile investigation into the recent attacks on the Santal community in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj upazila and a judicial inquiry into the killings of three members of the ethnic minority community in those attacks.

Holding a press conference in the capital's Dhaka Reporters Unity, they said the government must bring the culprits to trial and ensure compensations for the killed, injured and affected Santal people and security for their accommodation and living.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

They also demanded scrapping of all “false” cases against the Santals, and withdrawal of the officials of the local administration as they are “responsible" for the attacks.

The activists came together from Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad, and Nagorik Samaj.

In a written statement, they said the state must ensure security for its citizens and police could never displace the ethnic minorities from their land without any court order.

“It is totally an unlawful action. In the presence of police, the terrorists in no way can set fire to the houses of the indigenous people. Videos show that the terrorists were doing the torching but police didn't take any action. It can't happen in an independent country,” it read.

The statement added that Nagorik Samaj representatives visited the affected area and confirmed that the union parishad chairman and members and officials of the local administration were involved in the attacks.

“An influential person of a political party can in no way avoid his responsibility for attacking the indigenous people's villages and killing them.”

Transparency International Bangladesh chairperson Sultana Kamal, Oikya NAP president Pankaj Bhattacharya, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad president Rabindranath Soren, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum general secretary Sanjeeb Drong, and noted columnist Syed Abul Moksud were present at the conference.

Three Santals were recently killed in clashes with workers of Rangpur Sugar Mills in Shahebganj, while 20 houses of the ethnic minority community were looted and vandalised.

The Santals have long been demanding return of their land from the mill authority, which the then Pakistan government had acquired from the community in the 50s.

Meanwhile, a five-member team of Awami League will visit Santals in Gobindaganj today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sending the team to get a first-hand report of the incident, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AL's joint general secretary, told The Daily Star last evening.

Hanif yesterday made an announcement in this regard at Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi political office.

“The culprits will be caught, regardless of party affiliation,” he said.