Army prevents house construction in Maiscahri

chtnews.com
News No. 58/2008, April 1, 2008

Army personnel have prevented Jummas from constructing houses and planting ginger and turmeric in Maischari, Khagrachri.

Sources from Maischari said army personnel from Kiang-ghat camp on 28 March ordered Brio Mohan Chakma s/o Krishna Hori Chakma of Jadugonala village to dismantle his half-built house. He was constructing the house on his own land. The soldiers accused him of not taking "permission" for it.

They also prevented him from planting ginger and turmeric on his own land. However, the army did not provide any reason for this.

On 29 March, more Jumma villagers were warned not to plant ginger and turmeric. In Karallyachari village Ms Chigon Nagori Chakma (husband's name late Shanti Chakma) prepared the soil for planting the cash crops. But the army came and asked her not to plant.

Likewise, Sudhin Bikash Chakma s/o late Nagor Chan Chakma and Manotosh Chakma s/o Din Kumar Chakma of Jadugonala village were also prevented from planting their lands with ginger and turmeric.

The later was also warned not to construct any house. The soldiers seized his bricks meant for the construction of his house. He was carrying the bricks from Karallyachari to Jadugonala.

Maischari has always been a flashpoint. The area has seen hundreds of acres of land of the Jumma people being taken away forcibly by the illegal settlers with the help of the army during the last 14 months since the imposition of state of emergency in Bangladesh.

In fact, land grabbing has become a daily phenomenon in the area with the army directly aiding the settlers.