Attack on Santals condemned

Several indigenous people's organisations, along with people from all walks of life yesterday urged the government to ensure the security of the ethnic minority people.

The speakers said this while addressing an hour long human chain, protesting the recent attack on the Santal people in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj upazila.

Local people under the banner of 'Jatiya Adivasi Parishad', 'Adivasi Kalyan Samity' and 'Santal Students' Union' jointly organised the rally in front of Boda Upazila Parishad premises on Panchagarh-Dhaka highway.

A number of leaders and activists of different political parties and other socio-cultural organisations also expressed their solidarity with the victims during a discussion at the venue.

The speakers alleged that the attack was made only to evict the Santal people from their lands in a bid to grab those.

They demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers and urged the government to take necessary steps to settle the issue soon.

On November 6, police fired several rounds of teargas-shells during an eviction drive at Shahebganj sugarcane farm in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj upazila that left at least two Santals killed and several others injured.