After eviction from their land, Santals say they are confined to Bangladesh villages

A month after the death of three Santals in an eviction drive, the people from the ethnic minority group allege they have been confined to their villages in Gaibandha's Gobindaganj.

Tajul Islam Rezabdnews24.com
Published : 4 Dec 2016, 09:28 PM
Updated : 4 Dec 2016, 09:28 PM

The Santals have taken shelter at Madarpur Church ground and school after being driven out of a sugar mill land.

On Saturday, the Santals were dwelling in small shanties made of banana leaf or tents provided as relief on the church ground.

Many others are staying in an abandoned school. Over 100 mud stoves have been dug on the ground.

Barnabas Tudu of Madarpur village told bdnews24.com: "Supporters of the local MP and Union Parishad chairman have surrounded Madarpur and Joypur villages."

"Their job is to stop us from leaving the villages and others from entering in. So we have actually been confined for a month," he said.

Tudu also said the Santals are in fresh panic after being barred from taking part in a demonstration in Gaibandha, called by ethnic groups in the northern districts on Nov 28 against the Nov 6 eviction.

National Adibasi Parishad President Rabindra Soren said the new situation developed after a police complaint was lodged by Thomas Hemrom on behalf of the Santals on Nov 26 over the deaths of the tribesmen in police firing during the eviction.

"The MP's men are threatening the Santals demanding his name be withdrawn from the list of accused people in the complaint," Soren said.

Muktijoddha Sangsad organised a rally in Gobindaganj over the demand on Saturday. Local Awami League leader Mohammad Hossain Foku, also accused in the GD, was among the demonstrators.

Gaibandha-4 MP Abul Kalam Azad denied the allegation saying it was a part of propaganda to defame him.

"The people of the area love me. I don't know if any of them are making threats or barring someone. But I know that a quarter is out to defame me being jealous of me," he told bdnews24.com.

In the complaint, Gobindaganj UNO Md Abdul Hannan, Rangpur Sugar Mill MD Abdul Awal, Sapmara Union Parishad Chairperson Shakil Ahmed Bulbul, Katabarhi UP Chairperson Md Rezaul Karim Rafiq, sugarcane farm Manager Abdul Majid, and local Awami League leader Md Hossain's names were also included.

The others are some current and former members of local union councils, local individuals, and employees and workers of the sugar mill.