http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/01/05/d4010501099.htm
Daily Star, Mon. January 05, 2004
Pinaki Roy, from Modhupur
The Garos of Modhupur forest yesterday flew black flags atop their
houses to protest the killing of an indigenous youth in fire from police
and forest guards, while Shita Nakrek was waiting in her basic hut for
return of her husband's body after autopsy.
Thousands of incensed Garos demonstrated all day in the Modhupur forest
area, protesting the killing of 25-year-old Piren Slan, who joined a
group of protesters Saturday to resist the government's forest
conservation and eco-tourism project.
"I want justice for my husband's death," Shita said, bursting into
sharp
wails of grief. The 20-year-old woman was left on her own with two minor
children to take care of in Jainagachha village, about 50 kilometres
north of Tangail town.
The demonstrators carried the body of Piren in a procession and shouted
slogans against the conservation plan that they fear will threaten their
living.
The forest department has been building a wall to ring the Modhupur
forest to save it from what officials said were wood theft and land grab
in a plan the Garos described as destructive to their traditional
lifestyle.
Locals alleged Joynal Abedin Babul, the project contractor and local BNP
leader, was present at the scene where police and forest rangers opened
fire, killing Piren instantly and injuring 25 others including women and
children in an incident that prompted protest from rights groups.
"The moment we reached the spot, the police and forest guards fired on
us. We did nothing. We had no firearms. We were only shouting slogans,"
said Binita Mankin, a witness to the killing that created outrage in the
locality.
Main opposition Awami League lawmaker Abdur Razzak Bhola threw his
weight behind the Garos in their demonstration at Talki Bazaar for a
quick end to the 3,000-acre project the forest department took up in
2000.
Garo leaders demanded a judicial probe into the incident and demanded
immediate transfer of the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police
and divisional forest officer.
Albert Mankin, frontline Garo community leader, and Ajay A Mri, convenor
of the "committee on movement against wall construction", addressed
the
Talki Bazaar rally.
"We will take a hard-line, forcing the government to stop the project
for which one of us died," Ajay told The Daily Star.
DISCONSOLATE WITH GRIEF
The tragedy left Shita with her 3-month daughter Ratri Nakrek and
3-year-old son Utsha Nakrek.
She did not know Piren, a banana plantation worker, joined Saturday's
demonstration against the construction of the wall.
"Shita will have to struggle on with her children," said Sailo Slan,
mother of Piren, tears welling up in her eyes.
Abu Jafar Alam, officer-in-charge of Modhupur Police Station, said
police filed two cases -- one against the forest guards who were present
at the scene and fired and the other against the Garos for "unlawful
assembly".
Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police visited Modhupur Police
Station yesterday.
The 11-party left alliance, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Ain O Salish
Kendro, Bangladesh Manobadhikar Bastobayon Sangstha, Bangladesh
Christians Association, Sammilito Samajik Andolon and Bangladesh Chhatra
Union protested the killing and attacks on the indigenous people.