6 February 2003, The Independent

Mong community wants successor of Raja Mompru as their chief

UNB, Dhaka

The Mong community in Khagrachhari district wants to have their circle chief (Raja) from the legitimate successors of Raja Mompru Sain to keep up their 500-year-old tradition.

The indigenous people of the hill district have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia through a number of ministers to draw her attention to the matter.

As per the tradition, the circle chief has to be a member of Raj family. So, Princess Unika Devi is supposed to be the next circle chief as the king desired so before his death, according to the release.

"But the previous government selected Paila Pru Chowdhury, a former government official, as the circle chief although he does not belong to the King family. The appointment was given violating the rule," the release added.

They have sought the Prime Minister’s intervention in nominating the legitimate successor of Raja Mompru Sain as the circle chief.