Khagrachari Correspondent: Greater Chittagong Hill Tract Students Parishad (PCP), Democratic Youth Forum held a protest march and rally in Kudukchari of Rangamati to protest against the encroachment of forest land by Lama Rubber Industries in the Sarai Union of Lama Upazila of Bandarban. Hill Women’s Federation Rangamati District Branch. Today Friday (October 28) at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, Pahari Chhatra Parishad Rangamati district president Nikon Chakma presided over and general secretary Tanumoy Chakma spoke, United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) organizer Taran Chakma, Democratic Youth Forum central finance secretary Piers Chakma spoke. , Hill Women’s Federation District Branch Organizing Secretary Nishi Chakma.
The speakers in the rally said that for a long time there is a conspiracy by Lama Rubber Industries to seize 400 acres of land of Mro and Tripura in Sarai Union and evict them from their land. As a part of that, on October 26, more than 60 laborers illegally entered the Joom land of Mro-Tripura in Rengen Mro Para area and cleared the forest by force in violation of the administration’s ban. Despite the opposition of the local people, various progressive organizations and civil society, the rubber industries continued the coercive activities.
The speakers said that even after various inhumane incidents such as the attack on Rangdhajan Tripura, one of the organizers of the land protection movement by the rubber company, the vandalism of the Buddhist temple, the looting of the Buddha statue, the poisoning of the water source, the cutting of banana trees, they are more inclined to evict the Mro and Tripura people. has become reckless.
Stating that the government is implementing the Blue Plan to evict Paharis from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the speakers said that land grabbing is not only in Bandarban, but it is going on throughout the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Sometimes in the name of development, sometimes in the name of tourism, sometimes in the name of setting up camps of state forces, this process of land grabbing and mountain evacuation. Therefore, the speakers urged everyone to unite and form a protest against this land grabbing.
Speakers from the rally demanded an immediate stop to the encroachment of 400 acres of jum land in Lamay Mro and Tripura, legal action against land grabber Lama Rubber Industries and cancellation of all lease agreements and recognition of Pahariders’ customary land rights.
