chtnews.com
News No. 156/2010, October 29, 2010
A GROUP of settlers have made an attempt to grab lands belonging to the Jumma people in Baro Kalapani village under Ramgarh Upazila in Khagrachari district.
Sources said a group of 15 – 20 settlers led by Karim Ullah (35), president of Jubo League Patachara Union No. 9, went to Baro Kalapani village mounting on a jeep at 12:15pm today, Friday, and tried to occupy lands belonging to the Jumma villagers.
However, they were forced to retreat when the villagers resisted them.
The settlers made a similar attempt about one week ago, claiming that these lands were allotted to them back in 1980, villagers said.
Baro Kalapani village is over one hundred years old, and there have never been Bengali settlements anytime in the past.
Besides Jubo League leader Karim Ullah, some other settlers have identified as being involved in today’s land grab attempt.
They are late Md. Sun Box’s two sons Fazlu Rahman (60) and Shamshul Haq (50) from Lamkupara in Ramgarh Sadar, Md. Abul Kalam (60) son of late Khalilur Rahman of Henyako Bazaar, Dantmara Unon, Bhujpur, Fatikchari and Md. Harun (48) from Balukhali village under Patachara Union.
UPDF condemns
Ujwal Smriti Chakma, chief organiser of UPDF Khagrachari district unit, in a statement issued to the media condemned the attempt of the settlers to grab Jumma people’s lands in Ramgarh.
The UPDF leader urged the government to take stern actions against those involved in the land grab attempts, saying “such incidents have the potential to create fresh unrest in the CHT.”
He also demanded that the government inquires into whether any vested interest group is instigating the settlers to grab Jumma people’s lands.
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