Save indigenous people's land
“What is the fault of the villagers for which the owner of Syed Tea and Land Company Ltd will harass us? His men torture and threaten us and tell us to leave the land,” said a tearful day labourer Joltu Kanda.
Joltu, 49, narrated the situation yesterday to leaders of the human rights, environment and indigenous organisations who visited Lakhai Datta Bosti village of Srimangal upazila of the district.
The indigenous people also carried banners containing their demands.
The villagers demanded proper investigation and punishment of those who tortured the indigenous people and destroyed crops on their land.
Swapan Tanti, 35, told the leaders that he was jailed for three months for protesting attempt take the land. He said if they protest, the tea garden owners file cases against them to harass.
Atit Kanda, 54, head of a five-member family, said they have been living on the land for four generations, but never before faced such a situation. “The armed people destroyed my 4,000 to 5,000 pineapples. I don't know if I will be able to overcome this loss without assistance from the government and other benevolent people,” he added.
Bikram Tanti, 55, of the village said he legally purchased 1.8 hectares of land, including his homestead. “I refused to sell the land, so the company men destroyed my lemon and pineapple plantations. I have lost everything,” he added.
Father (Priest) Kiron Rozario, alleged that the tea company has paid the local administration, politicians and police for their support. Around 16,000 lemon trees, 8,000 pineapple trees, 3,700 banana trees, 1,200 papaya trees, 200 guava trees,750 jackfruit trees, 1,200 betel leaf trees, 37 000 Naga chili trees, 800 betel nut trees, 2,000 wood trees, 8,000 bamboo trees and 400 fruit trees were destroyed by the tea garden owner, he added.
“We have helped indigenous people to resist the move for years, but the wind is stronger on the other side,” Rozario added.
"The government should ensure basic human rights for indigenous people," said Josna Akther of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission, who led the 10-member team.
Pahar Rokkha O Unnoyon Society President Salauddin Ahmed said a plan is on to evict the minorities from the land. If eviction continues then one day indigenous people will be destroyed, he added.
Syeda Gulshanara, owner of Julekhanagar Tea Company rejected the allegations. “Our men did not destroy their homes and crops or trees,” she added.
Indigenous people have been at loggerheads for the last 11 years with Syed Tea and Land Company Ltd, which has sought to expand its Julekhanangar tea estate by forcibly evicting hundreds of families.
In recent months, the situation has escalated. Mobs of armed men allegedly deployed by the company have vandalised homes and destroyed crops on multiple occasions, in the hope of forcing indigenous villagers to leave the land.
Comments