Save our life, property from grabbers
Poor people belonging to the Dalit community living on 10 decimals of land at Sutang Bazar in Habiganj Sadar upazila have demanded proper steps for protection of their life and property from land grabbers.
Three murders and several incidents of attacks and rapes were committed by some locals trying to oust them from the land in last eight years, alleged the relatives of slain Sukhia Rabidas.
Sukhia's sister Suma Rabidas filed a case on June 11 against Sailu Mia, 25, son of Abdur Nur of Suroboy village in the upazila and five to six unnamed people on charge of killing her after failed attempt to rape her on June 10 and police later arrested Sailu Mia.
“Sailu and his accomplices often stalked our women. Now Sailu's relatives are threatening me,” Suma said.
“Sukhia's husband Monilal Das was murdered eight years ago in the same house. My uncle Arjun Rabidas, 50, president of Bangladesh Rabidas Unnayan Parishad's Habiganj district, was killed in 2013. Shailu Mia is the main accused in the murder case,” said Sukhia's cousin Jibon Rabidas.
“Sukhia Rabidas was the main witness in the two murder cases. She was murdered so that the cases are easily dismissed and it becomes easier to occupy our land,” he added.
“It seems that the three murders were committed by those who want to grab the Dalit people's land, which is now very pricey,” said a resident of Sutangbazar area seeking anonymity.
OC Md Nazim Uddin of Sayestaganj Police Station said, “Arrestee Sailu Mia, is accused in 18 cases. The case for killing Sukhia Rabidas was transferred to Habiganj DB 16 days ago.”
The case is under investigation, said Hosain Khan, OC of Habiganj DB.
Milon Rabidas, central vice-president of Bangladesh Dalit Parishad, said, “Our ancestral lands in different places were secretly recorded in the names of others. It will be difficult for us to survive if the government is not serious about our protection.”
Faruq Mahmmud Chowdhury, president of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik's Sylhet chapter, has urged the government to take steps for ensuring social, economic and political rights of the Dalit people.
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