CHT interim parishad expanded

Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune | Monday, March 10, 2014 Link: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/mar/10/cht-interim-parishad-expanded

The expansion favours majority of ethnic minorities

Seven representatives of the ethnic minority will be members of the expanded interim organogram of the Parbatya Chhattagram Zila Parishad.

The cabinet has approved the expansion of the interim Zila Parishads of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban in a regular meeting on Monday.

The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the Parbatya Chhattagram Zila Parishad (amended) Act, 2014.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan briefed the media afterwards.

The expanded body of the Zila Parishad will constitute of 11 members, including a chairman, in contrary to the preceding five-member structure.

Representatives of the ethnic minority will take seven seats in this interim body. The three remaining seats will be allowed for non-ethnic origin.

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See more at : http://bangla.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/article755466.bdnews

President visits Buddhist temples in Ramu

Courtesy: Dhaka Tribune | Monday, March 10, 2014

The Bangladesh Army has rebuilt, renovated these Buddhist temples and Bihars

President Abdul Hamid has visited several rebuilt Buddhist temples and centers at Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazar district.

During the visit on Monday , the president enquired about the wellbeing of local Buddhist community and distributed cheques to the affected members of the community, president's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said, reports BSS .

At first, the president visited U-maungrhee Bihar where four temples have been rebuilt. After that, the President went to Ramu Kendriyo Sima Bihar and distributed cheques to the affected families. Finally, the president visited Ramu Bimukti Bidarshan Bhavana Kendra.

President Abdul Hamid expressed his satisfaction after seeing the rebuilt Buddhist temples and rehabilitation of the affected Buddhists community.

After visiting the Buddhist temples, President Abdul Hamid returned to Dhaka by a helicopter Monday afternoon ending his two-day visit to Cox's Bazar district.

A large number of people from all walks of life, gathered beside the roads in Ramu to have a glimpse of the President.

On September 29 and 30 in 2012, fanatics vandalized and torched Buddhist temples and houses in Ramu and Ukhia upazials of Cox's Bazar following a fake Facebook post that demeaned the Holy Quran.

Some 12 temples and Bihars in Ramu and seven in Ukhia were damaged on that day following the instigation of some fanatics and miscreants.

After the disgraceful incidents, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed Bangladesh Army to rebuilt these temples and Bihars under a project, titled 'Rebuilding and Renovation of damaged Buddhist Bihars and Temples,' spending Tk 20 crore.

The Bangladesh Army rebuilt and renovated these Buddhist temples and Bihars in 19 separate places incorporating the traditional designs of the renowned architects from the Buddhist community.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated 12 Buddhist temples and Bihars, including Ramu Bimukti Bidarshan Bhavana Kendra, Ramu Kendriyo Sima Bihar and Ramu Moitree Bihar on September 3 in

2013.

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Link: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/mar/10/president-visits-buddhist-temples-ramu

Nat’l minority girl raped in Khagrachari

Courtesy: New Age, Dhaka | Saturday, March 8, 2014 | Link: http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2014-03-08&nid=85896#.UxuyJj_xoiJ

A national minority girl was raped in Manikchari upazila of Khagrachari on Friday.
Police arrested three people in this connection.

They are Shahidul Islam, 25, son of Samsul Haque, Mahbub Alam, 27, son of Sohrab Howlader, and Billal Hossain, 24, son of Fazlur Farazi.

Police and locals said the girl, aged 19, was gang raped at a jungle in Pichlatala area in the afternoon.

The girl was going home in Manikchari form Khagrachari town. She got down from a bus at Gabmara. After that, she hired the motorcycle of Shahidul to reach home but Shahidul stopped the vehicle at Pichlatala saying the motorcycle was out of order, said Manikchari union chairman Abul Kalam.

Meanwhile, Shahidul called the two others — Mahbub and Billal — over mobile phone and took the girl to a nearby jungle and raped her, he said.

After the girl managed to flee, she related the incident to the people at a shop in the area, the chairman added.
Locals, led by the UP chairman, conducted a search in the area, caught the trio and handed them over to police, Manikchari police officer-in-charge Keshab Chakrabartee said.

National minorities in the district held protests against the rape and in an instant reaction blocked the Khagrachari-Chittagong highway for an hour in the afternoon.

The OC said a case was filed against the three in this connection. Khagrachari police assistant superintendent Mohammad Shahjahan said the girl was now in police custody. She has identified the three and given a statement.

Int’l Women’s Day today

Courtesy: New Age, Dhaka | Saturday, March 8, 2014 

Link : http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2014-03-08&nid=85888#.UxtIiz_xoiI

International Women’s Day will be observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere today with a fresh vow to ensure equality of the sexes.
This year’s theme for Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8 every year, is: ‘Equality for women means progress for all.’

In a statement, the president, Mohammad Abdul Hamid, said that women’s overall equality would be ensured in Bangladesh by effective implementation of the National Women Development Policy 2011, work plan and the relevant laws and rules.

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said that the people should work together for building a country free from poverty, illiteracy, violence and exploitation which would ensure women’s empowerment, equality and full participation in development.  

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in his message, said ‘This International Women’s Day, we are highlighting the importance of achieving equality for women and girls not simply because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it.’

Different institutions and organisations have taken elaborate programmes marking the day.
Communist Party of Bangladesh’s women cell on Friday organised a rally marking the day while the discussants urged the country people to prevent all exploitation, discrimination and repression against women. 

United National Awami Party held a discussion marking the day. 
Amrai Pari Paribarik Nirjatan Pratirodh Jote and Dhaka University held a candlelight vigil with the theme ‘Stop using religion in state politics; ensure equal rights and development for women’ at the Central Shaheed Minar after midnight past Friday. The same programme was scheduled to be observed in 47 districts. 

Bangladesh National Garments Workers Employees’ League will form a rally in front of the National Press Club at 10:30am today pressing for ensuring maternal facilities and safe workplace for women workers in apparel sector. 
Bikkhubdha Nari Samaj will organise day-long programmes including procession, rally and painting exhibition. 

Naripakkha will stage a drama with the theme ‘Sexual harassment and violence in marital affairs’ at Chhayanaut Bhaban at 6:30pm.
Biplabi Nari Sanghati will hold a rally in front of the National Museum at 5:00pm.
Jatiya Mukti Council, Nayaganatantrik Ganamorcha, Jatiya Ganatantrik Ganamancha and Jatiya Ganafront will jointly organise a rally in front of the National Press Club at 3:30pm. 
Sramajibi Nari Oikkaya will organise a rally in front of the National Press Club at 10:30am. 
Muktir Mancha will organise a cultural programme in front of the National Press Club at 3:00pm.

The idea of an international women’s day was first put forward at the turn of the 20th century. In 1910 the first international women’s conference was held in Copenhagen by the Second International and an international women’s day was established by German Socialist Clara Zetkin. 

In 1911, International Women’s Day was marked by more than a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19. 
In 1913, International Women’s Day was transferred to March 8 and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since.
In 1975, the United Nations started celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day.

- See more at: http://www.daily-sun.com/details_Women-still-facing-discrimination_787_1_1_1_10.html#sthash.UoP3563B.dpuf

Save indigenous women in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

Section 144 imposed in Khagrachhari

Additional District Magistrate Anar Koli has imposed the section 144 at 4.00pm on Wednesday that will remain effective till 12pm on Friday.

Source: Dhaka Tribune, Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 19:52, Link: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/feb/26/section-144-imposed-khagrachhari

Chittagong Hill Tracts unit of Stop Violence against Women and Women Resource Network form a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner's office in Rangamati town yesterday demanding arrest and punishment of the criminals who raped and killed Sabita Chakma on the bank of Chengi River in Khagrachhari district on February 15. Photo: collected

The local administration has imposed section 144 at Kamalchhari union of Sadar upazila and its adjacent Mohalchhari upazila following another clash between Pahari and Bangali that left nine more people injured for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

Additional District Magistrate Anar Koli has imposed the section 144 at 4.00pm on Wednesday that will remain effective till 12pm on Friday.

Officer-in-charge of Sadar police station Md Mizanur Rahman said a total 19 people were injured in the last two days over the clashes held at different villages under sadar upazila in the district.

The people injured on Wednesday were identified as Ripon Mia, 45, son of Mohosin Mia, Shahid Biswas, 35, son of Rashid Biswas, Rashedul Islam, 25, son of Suruj Mia, Zahed Alam, 28, son of Shamsul Hoque, Shah Alam, 35, son of Jamal Uddin, Rezaul Karim, 30, son of Jahid Hossain of Bhuyachhari village, Bipul Jyoti Chakma, 35, son of Gogo Chakma, Roma Devi Chakma, 56, wife of Gogo Chakma and Mamoni Chakma, 25, daughter of Babu Chakma of Barnalmukh under sadar upazila in Khagrachhari district, OC Mizanur added.

All injured were admitted at Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital, police confirmed.

A total 12 platoon police, army, BGB were deployed at different spots in the conflicted areas to avoid further untoward incident, the OC said.

Meanwhile, Pahari and Bangali have been blaming each other for Wednesday’s clashes.

Around 100 Bengali settlers attacked on ethnic villages Apar Betchhari, Barnalmukh, Barnal Headman Para and injured three people while they also torched a Budda Bihar, ransacked its furniture, stole a little Budda statue and looted some money, Gayano Chakma, a villager of Kamalchhari village alleged, quoting affected areas’ locals.

Villager Mohammad Shahor Ali, alleged around 100 Pahari (ethnic) people came under attack when they went in a nearby jungle, adjacent to their Bhuiyachhari village to seek Shahid, who was missing since Tuesday afternoon clashes.

Replying another quarry Shahor Ali denied their involvement with torching any Buddah Bihar, materials or any statue, he said adding that the Pahari people themselves might torch this to probe us guilty.

None of our men went to Apar Betchhari, situated around five kilometers away from our village, Shahor Ali added.

When asked, local law maker Kujendra Lal Tripura said: “I have visited the spots and tried to find the fact about what actually happened. Give me some time to understand then I can give you a comment.”

Pahari-Bangalee clash leaves 10 injured

The clashes erupted over the murder of Sabita Chakma issue

Source: Dhaka Tribune, February 26, 2014 | Link: http://www.dhakatribune.com/law-amp-rights/2014/feb/26/pahari-bangalee-clash-leaves-10-injured

At least 10 people were injured in clashes yesterday between the indigenous villagers of Kamalchhari and the leaders and activists of the Parbattya Bangali Chhatra Parishad over the murder of Sabita Chakma.

Among the injured, six were from the PBCP and four from the Chakma indigenous community. They were admitted to the Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital and some other private clinics in the hill town, police confirmed. Khagrachhari district unit PBCP Secretary Mohammad Masum alleged that the villagers of Kamalchhari attacked their men first when they were chanting slogans from a procession while crossing the village protesting the blaming of Bangalees for Sabita’s murder.

“You [journalist] know that the Paharis brought a false accusation that a Bangalee raped and killed housewife Sabita Chakma. But the post mortem report proved that she had been hacked to death,” Masum said.

“The pahari people intentionally attacked us,” Masum alleged. But he did not explain why they had been chanting slogans against the indigenous people.

On the other hand, Kamalchhari village Headman Kirtimoy Chakma said the villagers blockaded the Khagrachhari-Bhuyachhari road yesterday morning protesting the murder of Sabita Chakma.  He alleged that the PBCP men attacked them first when they were returning home after staging a human chain at Shapla Chattar.

“The Bangalees have the right to protest; but they have no right to attack us,” Kirtimoy said.

Indigenous populace under peril of violence

Source: Dhaka Tribune, February 24, 2014 | Link: http://www.dhakatribune.com/law-amp-rights/2014/feb/24/indigenous-populace-under-peril-violence

According to the organisation, at least 11 indigenous people including four women- three from CHT and eight from plainland- were killed in 2013

•  Women activists form a humanchain at the capital’s Shahbagh yesterday, demanding an end to the repression and violence against indiginous women  Photo- Dhaka Tribune

Recent findings of Kapaeeng Foundation, a human rights organisation, indicates that the indigenous population of the country are struggling to survive in the face of land grabbing and other forms of violence and intimidation.

It said compared to last two years, incidents of violence against the indigenous population, particularly those related to land grabbing, have increased alarmingly.

According to the findings, at least 10 communal attacks- six in Chittagong Hill Tracts (including EPZ) and four in the plain land- took place in which houses and properties of at least 346 families- 275 from CHT and 71 from plainland- were destroyed and looted.

In the same year, at least 47 houses including one from the plainland were set on fire. Around 2000 people of CHT had to flee to the no man’s land at the India- Bangladesh border.

Last year, 66 families were attacked in the plainland and in last five years at least 200 families fled to India from North Bengal region falling victims of land grabbing, false cases and intimidation.

The statistics show, during the last year, 3792 acres of land were grabbed only in the CHT area while 103 bighas of land in the plain land.

The land grabbers include mostly Bengali settlers (who were politically settled in 1975 by the government order), high profile political figures from the government and also top brass of some multinational companies.

Of the total areas grabbed in CHT, 3717 acres of lands were grabbed mainly by outside private parties and influential people including former Forest and Environment Minister’s wife Noor Fatema and 75 acres were grabbed by the government.

Indigenous families from the northwest region of the country had lost their traditional lands as the administration listed them as ‘Khas’ (state-owned) land, although, as a signatory of the ILO Convention no 107 on Indigenous and Tribal Populations, the state is not permitted to do so, said the findings.

The report also pointed out that a total of 26 families were evicted while 1062 families were under threat of eviction.

According to the organisation, at least 11 indigenous people including four women- three from CHT and eight from plainland- were killed in 2013.

A total of 67 indigenous women and children- 53 from CHT and 14 from plainland-were subjected to violence. Of them, 15 indigenous women and children-12 from CHT and three from plainland- were raped.

The report mentioned that 69% of the women victims were minor while 89% of the perpetrators were Bengali settlers- 7% of indigenous origin and 4% from security forces.