Land grabbing attempts continue: army orders Jumma villagers to vacate land

chtnews.com
News No. 28/2008, February 17, 2008

On 7 February Dui Tila army camp commander Subedar Mohammad Malek unveiled plan to settle 50 illegal Bengali settler families in Tin Tila area under Baghaichari Upazilla of Rangamati district.

The commander also ordered 9 Jumma villagers to leave their homesteads in Tin Tila. They are Gongotya Chakma (45) of Betagichara village, Banshi Chakma (40) of village Betagichara, Sambhulal Chakma (50) of village Betagichara, Kishor Chakma (35) of village Betagichara, Chikondhan Chakma (35) of village Hazachara, Kanti Chakma (35) of village Hazachara, Kishtojoy Chakma (35) of village Hazachara, Kalomoni Chakma (35) of village Moghban and Purnadarshi Chakma (45) of village Tintila.

Subedar Malek unveiled his plan at a meeting on that day with 5 Jumma elders he called at his camp. The Jummas present at the meeting were Natin Chakma (village chief), Chitta Ranjan Chakma and Suresh Chakma of Boro Hazachara village, Bharat Kumar Karbari of Noapara village in Tintila and Sumojya Karbari of Rannyabon Chara village.

Malek told them that 50 settler families would be settled in Tintila area and warned: "if the settlers face any troubles (with the settlement), you and all the Pahari people (of the area) will be held responsible for that."

He further said that no one will be allowed to build houses within 300 yards of the (Dighinala - Baghaihat) road. "However, houses can be built and orchards and plantations created outside of that area," he added.

The army commander asked the Jumma elders to produce Pora Chakma (30) of village Rannyabon Chara under Tintila Mouza before him. The army suspects him of carrying out an arson attack on a newly built settler house near the camp.

Apart from the Jumma elders, three Bengali settlers - Abdul Matin Leader, Mohammad Selim Bahari, a leader of Sama Odhikar Andolan, a ultra communal outfit of the settlers, and Mian Member, incumbent commissioner of Baghaivchari Municipality - were also present at the meeting. They suggested that all the lands of Tintila are Khas (not owned by individuals). "If the Paharis can live here, why can't we?" they asked slyly.

The army and the illegal settlers have been trying to grab about 14 acres of land in the area. Of these, 12 acres belong to Chitta Ranjan Chakma and Pora Chakma of Rannyachara village under Baghaichari Upazila. The remaining 2 acres belong to Dildar Chakma of village Boro Hazachara under Merung in Khagrachari district.