23 ethnic people killed last year

At least 23 people, including six women and girls of indigenous communities, were killed in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and elsewhere in the country last year, according to Human Rights Report 2016 on the ethnic people.

In 2015, seven indigenous people were killed in the CHT and three others elsewhere.

Last year, the most atrocious incident was the killing of three Santals allegedly by police in Gobindaganj of Gaibandha following a dispute regarding land, mentioned the report which was revealed at The Daily Star Centre in the capital yesterday.

"2016 was one of the critical years for the indigenous people of Bangladesh, especially for the Santals of Gobindaganj in Gaibandha,” observed the report prepared by Kapaeeng Foundation, a human rights organisation for indigenous peoples of Bangladesh.

Claiming the ownership of the land of Sahebganj-Bagda sugarcane farm of Rangpur Sugar Mills, the Santals started erecting houses on the disputed land in June last year. They had cultivated paddy on 100 acres of land.

On November 6 last year, a tripartite clash broke out between the Santals, factory employees and police over eviction of indigenous people from the land. The forcible eviction drive led to the killing of the Santals whilst many others were left injured.

"Every year after disclosing the report on human rights violations against indigenous peoples, we expect that the situation will improve. Unfortunately, that never happens,” said Pallab Chakma, editor of the report and also executive director of Kapaeeng Foundation.

The data was collected from the related reports published in different local and national newspapers and local ethnic organisations, which in turn were verified by Kapaeeng's staff, he mentioned.

Last year, at least 17 women were allegedly raped and six were killed after rape, claimed the report, adding that five incidents of kidnapping were also reported.

Besides, at least 53 cases of violence against the indigenous women were reported. Twenty eight of them were from the CHT and 25 from other places. However, human rights violation against the ethnic women and girls in the last year dropped slightly in comparison to 2015, the report said.

Last year, the number of cases on human rights violation against indigenous women was 69, while the number stood at 85 in 2015, it mentioned.

At least 96 members of ethnic communities were physically tortured and harassed, and 297 houses were ransacked allegedly by law enforcement agencies last year.

“Around 1,200 indigenous families in Gobindaganj were forced to run for their life as their houses were completely burnt to ashes. The incident of Gobindagonj is a glaring example of the extent of helplessness that indigenous peoples are thrust in,” the report added.

Speaking at the programme, Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, said the ethnic minorities were now passing the toughest time as their human rights are being violated seriously.

Prof Mizanur Rahman, former chairman of National Human Rights Commission, said if human rights situation is not improved, the government's claim of economic progress would not bring any change to the lives of the ethnic people.

Requesting the government to give importance on this report, rights activist Khushi Kabir said it is the government's responsibility to protect rights of the ethnic communities and take steps so that their rights will not be violated in future.

Kapaeeng Foundation Chairperson Rabindranath Soren chaired the programme.