Living in constant fear

Sngai Marchiang sells betel leaf for a living.

For him it is not just work, but rather a family tradition and the 55-year-old takes a lot of pride in it. His grandfather used to grow the plants in their garden while his grandmother sorted the leaves in the yard.

He also sends his two children to school and wishes to expand the betel leaf garden with the help of his wife and eldest son.

Not only Marchiang, most of the residences of the Lawachhara and Magurchhara punjees (village) are involved in this trade, where life goes on for the Khasi people amid optimism and making do with what they have.

But everything changed recently after the government took a decision to relocate them from their villages in the Lawachhara national forest for, what they claim, saving the forest.

Around 70 Khasi families of the two adjacent villages -- Lawachhara punjee under Sreemangal upazila and Magurchhara punjee under Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar -- are now in fear of eviction from the land they have been living on for years.

Though Christmas is just around the corner, it hardly brought any joy to them. A sense of fear has gripped the minds of apprehensive residents.

While visiting the Lawachhara punjee, this correspondent saw women with heavy hearts sit idly without sorting the betel leaves. The elderly could barely concentrate on their chores. Few children were planning to play, but after seeing their parents wearing a bleak look, did not.

“My grandparents died here,” Marchiang pointed towards the area under a Koroi tree. “How can I leave this place?”

“I wish the authorities concerned would come here to discuss the situation with us. We have nothing against them. They need to know how badly we will be affected if the decision is implemented. I survive by growing betel plants. What else am I supposed to do if evicted from my land?” he said.

“It's happening just for grabbing land and felling trees,” alleged Rony Suchiang, 25, a degree final year student.

“We are spreading our call for justice through the social media. We are proud to be Khasi and Bangladeshi. We live in harmony with everyone,” he added. All the youths standing beside him echoed.

The elderly were not as much vocal. An aura of melancholy hung in the air where they sat in silence.

“I just want to be laid to rest here. But the government is saying I can't even die in my land,” lamented Flora Pohthmi, 90.

Jhorna Dkhar and Saju Marchiang, sitting beside her, were too distraught to talk.

“How can the forest department take such a decision without informing us? How are we hurting the forest? It's our home. Our land is our pride. We plant trees, and look after those. We also stop miscreants from felling them,” said Phila Pohthmi, headman of the Lawachhara punjee.

“Even the word Lawachhara is a Khasi word. 'Lawa' means bees, and 'Chhara' means a small cascade. The bees were aplenty at one time. But due to deforestation their numbers had reduced,” he paused, and added, “Just like ours.”

Donno Lamin, 55, said, “When I heard the news I could not believe it. None of us can focus now. We fear for our children's futures.”

His wife Khonglah, 52, looked away while wiping tears. “How could a country take such a decision against its own?” 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) demanded that the government change its decision of relocating the punjees. Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bapa, and Sharif Jamil, its joint secretary, said the country's heritage must be protected.

Mihir Kumar Doe, divisional forest officer (wildlife and nature conservation department), of Sylhet Forest Division, told this correspondent that the decision to move the Magurchhara and Lawachhara punjees from the forest was taken at a high level meeting.

“We took the decision to save the wildlife and trees. We are preparing a plan to relocate the punjees,” said RFM

Monirul Islam, DFO of the Sylhet Forest Division.

When asked, both of them claimed they have informed the villagers of the decision.

“Due to torture, harassment and deforestation many of the Khasi people are leaving the country,” alleged Faruq Mahmud Chowdhury, president of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SHUJAN), Sylhet chapter.

Terming the decision inhumane, Gourango Patro, president of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Sylhet chapter, said “Indigenous people have ancestral rights to the land, which is also recognised by the United Nations. The forest department is violating international norms and standards.”