Santals worried about job in sugarcane farm

Santals in Gobindaganj are worried about getting jobs again in Shahebganj sugarcane farm, where they had been working almost regularly prior to beginning a movement for return of what they said was their forefathers' lands acquired by the government.

"Earlier, when the sugar mill ran full-swing, nearly a thousand Santal labourers worked there," said Rafayel Hasda, a leader of the Santal community.

"We have to search for alternative jobs or even migrate to other places as a bitter relation has developed with the mills' authorities," he added.

"At present, the farm is facing acute labourer shortage since the Santals refused to work there. They can work in the farm at any time as we don't have any restrictions," said Abdul Awal, managing director of the mill.

Meanwhile, normalcy is prevailing in the Santal villages at Madarpur and Joypurpara, and students are attending their classes.

Protesting the attack on the Santal community and the killing, looting and arson on November 6 and 7, the Gaibandha and Gobindaganj units of Puja Udjapon Parishad and Hindu, Bouddha, Christian Oikya Parishad, arranged a press conference at Gobindaganj Press Club yesterday.

Speakers at the conference said those who helped and instigated the Santal community to capture government's acquired lands of Shahebganj cane farm are responsible for evicting, killing and looting Santal families. They demanded judicial investigation of the incident to find out the perpetrators. They also demanded withdrawal of the case filed against lawmaker Principal Abul Kalam Azad.