News source: Prothom-alo, Date of publication: November 21, 2003.
Link: http://www.prothom-alo.net/newhtmlnews1/category.php?CategoryID=5&Date=2003-11-21
Government has reduced the ration supply for the Returnee Jumma Refugees to half. A letter was served to the concern people from the CHT Affairs ministry in this regard.
In a protest to this decision of the government, Mr. Sontoshito Chakma Bukul, General Secretary of the Returnee Jumma Refugee Welfare Association said, “Without a proper rehabilitation of the refugees if the government decides to reduce the ration supply we will go for strike and movement till the decision is withdrawn”.
It has been reported that in an official circular issued from the CHT Affairs Ministry on 12th November duly signed by Muinul Haque, the senior Assistant Secretary of the concerned ministry, it says that the amount of rice 3,886.83 metric tons allotted for the months of July to September of the current year is to be treated as July to December i.e. the ration for the remaining part of the year.
It is to be mentioned here that before signing the peace accord 12,169 families comprising about 60,000 hill people had taken shelter in India as refugee due to prolonged political disturbance in the region of CHT. They came back to their homeland after signing the peace accord with the government. Since they have returned to their homeland the government is providing a ration of 65.10 kg of rice to an adult member and 33.53 kg of rice to a minor member of a returnee refugee family for every three months.
Mr. Sontoshito Chakma Bukul further informed that after coming back from India, 1,339 families are yet to get back their home stead, 774 families are yet get their orchards and 942 families are yet to get back their paddy land as promised by the government. Apart from that a number of 890 families are yet to get the bullocks as promised by the government. Government also failed to keep its promise of restoring six schools and five market places destroyed or moved elsewhere during the time of disturbance. He further complains that the settlers have occupied 40 villages and 7 temples of the hill people.
When communicated with Mr. Samiron Dewan, the chairman of Task Force for Rehabilitation of the Returnee Jumma refugees he confirmed the news of reduction of ration supply to the returnee Jumma refugees.
Translated from Bangla by JCC