Hills people allege arson attack

Rangamati

Hills people allege arson attack

Staff Correspondent



Victims of an arson attack on four hilly villages under Baghaichhari upazila in Rangamati yesterday alleged that Bangalee settlers there set fire to their 77 houses on the night of April 20.

They further alleged that some defence personnel were present during the occurrence.

At a news conference held at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) the victims from indigenous communities of the hilly district demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.

They also demanded compensation for and rehabilitation of the victims, and removal of the Bangalee settlers from the area.

Binoy Chakma read out a written statement at the news conference, which was attended, among others, by Ganendu Bikash Chakma, Clinton Khisa, Shanti Bikash Chakma, Dwin Mohan Chakma, and Shimul Chakma.

They said that after burning their houses to ashes the Bangalee settlers continued to occupy their lands, which was allegedly backed by some defence personnel.

To give the occupation a legal cover, the Bangalee settlers were supplied with fake land documents, with which the settlers have already started claiming ownerships of hilly lands, they alleged.

The written statement also said the attackers first looted all valuables from the houses of the indigenous people and then set fire to them.

The victims also said around 200 Bangla speaking attackers were brought in from outside the area, who ended up setting fire to many houses of the Bangalee settlers too by mistake, as they lacked knowledge about the area.

They said a total of 77 houses in four villages were gutted, 28 of which were in Purba Para village, 11 in Gangaram Mukh village, 5 in Retkaba village, and 33 were in Dane Baiba Chhara village.

The representatives of indigenous communities also brought allegation that they were being evicted in a planned way and the Bangalee settlers were put in their place. This has the support of some defence personnel, they alleged.

After a recent infestation of rats in agricultural fields there, the government and different other organisations provided money and food for the affected people, but the indigenous communities were deprived of the relief, the news conference alleged.