Press conference held against land acquisition in Bandarban

CHTnews.com
News No. 01/2008, January 19, 2008

Leaders of the Committee for Protection of Land in Bandarban have called upon the government to cancel the ongoing process of acquiring 9,560 acres of land for the purpose of expansion of Ruma Garrison in Bandarban.

The demand was made at a press conference held at Reporters Unity premises in Dhaka today, 19 January.

Committee member Mr. Khoichong Murung read out a written statement in which he claimed that the government is now at the final stage of acquiring the land in three Mouzas of Galenga, Pantola and Sengum under Ruma Upazilla.

Describing the process, he said "the Military Estate Officer of Bangladesh Military had made a proposal to the Thana Nirbahi Officer of Ruma to upgrade Ruma Garrison to a full-fledged cantonment. However, the TNO opined that the proposed expansion plan would affect 1, 569.06 acres of land of private ownership as well as 4,000 acres belonging to the Forest Department and displace 4,315 persons of 644 Jumma families. Again, in 1988 a joint team of Bandarban District Administration and the Bangladesh Military conducted feasibility study of the area and concluded that the acquisition of the said land would result in disastrous consequences. Because of this the past governments of both Awami League and BNP had refrained from endorsing the plan."

Describing the potential consequences of the ongoing land acquisition process, Mr. Khoichong further stated that "if the process is put through a total of about 4 thousand Jummas mostly from Marma, Tripura and Murung nationalities would be affected, many villages would be completely destroyed and thousands of acres of forests would melt away. On the other hand, there is no suitable and adequate land for the rehabilitation of the displaced persons. This will in turn create enormous pressure on the demands of land, increase dependence on Jum cultivation and pose serious threats to the life and livelihood of the displaced persons."

Criticizing the role of the Bangladesh Military personnel in the land acquisition process he said, "the army is, on the one hand, putting direct and indirect pressure on the village elders including Chairmen and Karbaris (village head) to accept the land acquisition programme, and proposing tantalizingly huge amounts of money as compensation on the other."

He also accused both the civil and military administration of maintaining blanket secrecy about the actual status of the land acquisition process.

The press conference was also attended by Kowla Aung Marma, Hla Mong woo Marma, Mongnu Aung Marma, Singrao Murung, Prusathoai Marma and Mongting Oyong Marma.

During the question and answer session, Mr. Kowla Aung Marma, one of the potential victims, said "We will rather die than leave our lands. If necessary we will take to the streets."

When asked how the process of acquiring the said land can go on when there is an embargo put in place by the Ministry of Land, Mr. told the media persons that the military had also tried to grab lands during the rule of BNP-led four party alliance government.

At least fifteen reporters and photo journalists from different news papers and media organisations attended the press conference.