Discard plans for lake on indigenous land: speakers
The government has to immediately cancel the proposed excavation of agricultural land of ethnic minorities to create a lake in Tangail's Madhupur area, said speakers at a programme yesterday. Protesting the Forest Department's move, people from ethnic minority communities demonstrated at Dokhala.
The speakers said over 25,000 indigenous people have been protecting forest and biodiversity for a long time. However, the Forest Department, in the name of protecting forests, takes projects that harm the environment, they added, urging the authorities to stop the such initiatives. They said indigenous people have been living in the forest for generations, long before the forest department was established. The department has no right to destroy the agricultural land -- their livelihood.
They also threatened tougher movement if their demand is not heard.
Among others, John Jetra, president of Bangladesh Garo Chhatra Sangathan; Alik Mre, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad; Mukul Daru on behalf of the land owners, and Tony Mathew Chiran, organising secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Jubo Forum, spoke at the rally.
Ajoy-A-Mre, former president of Joyenshahi Adivasi Unnoyon Parishad, chaired the event.
The Forest Department is set to excavate an artificial lake at Amtali in Madhupur National Park to attract tourists, despite objections from the local ethnic minorities who fear this would damage their livelihoods and culture.
The 800 feet by 200 feet lake will be dug on 12 bighas of land near a two-storey rest house, which is under construction, next to Dokhala Rest House, according to the Forest Department.
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