The Daily Star, Vol. 5 Num 65
Sat. July 31, 2004
Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh Forum for Indigenous People (BFIP) yesterday reiterated its
call for cancellation of Madhupur Eco-Park Project in Tangail and
withdrawal of 'false cases' against the indigenous people.
"Eco-Park will destroy the ecological balance of Madhupur Forest area
and force the indigenous people to leave their own land," said Sanjib
Drong, secretary general of the forum while addressing a rally at the
Central Shaheed Minar in the city.
"Madhupur Eco-Park is not a project for forest conservation, rather it
is a project of massive corruption," he added.
Sanjib said the indigenous people are frequently accused of being
involved in anti-state activities, although they are fighting only for
establishing their rights on their own land.
"Listed criminals are easily released on bail but the 'innocent'
indigenous people are never granted bail," he regretted.
Sanjib alleged that the indigenous people in other parts of the country
are also subjected to harassment due to encroachment to their lands by
vested quarters.
He also demanded the establishment of the constitutional rights of the
indigenous people.
Prof Mejbah Kamal of Dhaka University (DU) said the government is
creating a situation that has forced the indigenous people to leave the
country.
"We have failed to establish the country as a non-communal state even
after three decades of independence, " he added.
DU Professor H K Arefin condemned the government's 'inhuman' attitude to
country's indigenous people.
Nirmal Chatterji, general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Jubo Oikya
Parishad, said there is hardly any representation of minority
communities in any state affairs although the government always termed
the country a non-communal state.
The forum leaders said they will announce their next course of action
from a grand rally at Madhupur on August 2 if the government does not
meet their demands.
Earlier, they paid tribute to Pinen Snal who was killed in police firing
on January 3 while protesting the construction of a boundary wall for
the proposed Madhupur Eco-Park Project.
Garo leaders Albert Mankin and Rajesh Rema and Gono Forum Presidium
Member Pankaj Bhattacharya also addressed the rally.
<http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/07/31/d40731060158p.htm>
Picture
Bangladesh Forum for Indigenous People (BFIP) held a rally at Central
Shaheed Minar yesterday demanding cancellation of Madhupur Eco-Park
Project in Tangail and withdrawal of 'false cases' against the
indigenous people. PHOTO: STAR