chtnews.com
News No. 63/2010, March 18, 2010
“What we need to do now is to return and rehabilitate the Bengali settlers to their ancestral hearth and homes.”
This was recommended by Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury, a retired Air Force Comodre and currently the Registrar of North South University, in an article entitled “Righting a historic wrong” published in today’s issue of The Daily Star. (http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=130478)
Refuting the ultra-nationalists’ argument that as citizens the Bengalees have the right to settle in the CHT, the writer said, “It is argued by people in responsible positions that as a citizen of the state one has the right to settle anywhere in Bangladesh; tribal area should be no exception. However, one should not forget that there are special rules about tribal lands throughout the world. Governments everywhere make special legislations to protect and preserve the way of life of the indigenous people.”
He went on to say: “We cannot allow the indigenous culture and civilisation to be inundated by the onslaught of the majority Bengali culture, just like we do not want our Bengali culture to be swept away by the onslaught of Indian or English culture.”
Mr. Ishfaq further said that the pressure on agricultural land is as acute in CHT as in the plains.
“We need to encourage a resettlement of Bengali settlers. Those who want to return home or return to the plains may be encouraged to do so. They may be retrained for employment in industries and service sectors. Those who wish to return to agriculture may be rehabilitated in various chars or in the newly emerging islands in the Bay of Bengal.” he recommended.
According to him “If we could take out of CHT even a portion of the camp people, we would be righting a historic wrong done in the past.”
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