Return our ancestral land from Shahebganj farm

Hundreds of locals including ethnic minority people yesterday formed a human chain along DB Road in Gaibandha municipality demanding return of their forefather's landed property acquired decades ago for Sahebganj sugarcane farm under Rangpur Sugar Mills in Gaibandha.

The participants at the programme, organised by local NGO Jano Udyog and Adivasi Chhatra Parishad's Gobindagnaj upazila unit, demanded that police stop harassment of indigenous people in the name of eviction from the sugarcane farm and withdraw false cases against them.

During the Pakistan period, the then government acquired 1842 acres of land from indigenous people and local residents of Shahebganj in Gobindaganj upazila to set up an agricultural farm for supplying sugarcane for the mill, speakers said at the programme.

But most of the farmlands are now under local influential people and used for cultivating paddy, jute and other crops instead of sugarcane and so, the land should be returned to the original owners, they said.

They also demanded treatment and rehabilitation of local people, who received injuries during last week's eviction drive by police.

Lasen Khan Rintu Golam Rabbani, Riktu Proshad, Probir Chakkravarti, Mathias Marji, Muku Bemra, Indro Mohan Mardi and Sumita Rabidas spoke on the occasion.

Earlier they brought out a procession in the town.

Khan Rintu Golam Rabbani, Riktu Proshad, Probir Chakkravarti, Mathias Marji, Muku Bemra, Indro Mohan Mardi and Sumita Rabidas spoke on the occasion.

Earlier they brought out a procession in the town.