Indigenous families lose 1748 acres of land

from- http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=36020
Survey reveals at workshop
Staff Correspondent

Around 1983 indigenous families in 10 districts of the country have so far lost their 1748 acres of ancestral land, says a survey report.

Different organisations including the forest department grabbed or acquired the land showing forged documents or in the name of social forestry.

The findings of the survey, which is being conducted by Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP), were placed at a national workshop at the National Press Club in the capital yesterday.

JAP General Secretary Robindranath Soren placed the report of the survey which is expected to be completed by next month.

The survey showed that of the 1983 indigenous families, 521 lost their land through forged documents whereas the forest department acquired over 1185 acres of land belonging to 466 indigenous families in the name of social forestry.

Speakers at the workshop urged the government to return the land to indigenous people and establish their rights on lands.

JusticeMuhammadHabibur Rahman, former chief adviser to a caretaker government, said," I am happy that the indigenous people have come forward to establish their rights."

He said the rights of indigenous people have got a new dimension across the world.

The Australian Supreme Court has directed the government to give indigenous people their rights on land, he added.

Justice Rahman advised the indigenous people to stand before the law commission with all documents so that the commission can stand by their (indigenous) side.

The JAP has been conducting the survey since January in Naogaon, Natore, Bogra, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Joypurhat, Chapainawabganj, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Panchagarh districts.

According to the survey, in Dinajpur alone the forest department has acquired around 1182 acres of land from 411 indigenous families.

Indigenous people at the workshop urged the government to ensure their constitutional recognition and form a land commission to resolve their land problems.

Presided over by Anail Marandi, the workshop was also addressed by former adviser Sultana Kamal, Prof Ajay Roy, convener of Sampritee Mancha, Haider Akbar Khan Rono, politburo member of the Workers' Party, and Mujahidul Islam Selim, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh.