No X-mas joy for Khasis, Garos

This year's Christmas hardly brings any cheers for four hundred Khasi and Garo families in Srimangal upazila of the district, as an influential person has taken initiative to establish a tea garden on the land inhabited by them.

“How can we celebrate the Christmas when we are living in fear of eviction,” said Thiari Suting, 45, a man belonging to the Khasi community at Nahar-1 punjee (betel plantation area).

Md Kamal Hossain, joint secretary of Awami League's Moulvibazar unit, also president of Moulvibazar Chamber of Commerce and Industries, has got permission from the Ministry of Land to establish a tea garden there and sent his papers to the deputy commissioner (DC) of Moulvibazar for approval.

Kamal Hossain, owner of Mahi Tea Estate, said, “As far as I know the land is not indigenous Khasi people's property. There are 1800 acres of land in total. Nahar tea garden took 600 acres and Khasis live on 600 acres. We wanted the rest of the land on lease.”

Henry Lamin, headman of Nirala punjee, said, “We have been living on the land and cultivating here from the time of our forefathers. But the Awami League leader wants to set up a tea garden on a 600.7-acre area in our land.”

Tofail Islam, DC of Moulvibazar, said, “The Ministry of Land has approved leasing the land to Mahi Tea Estate. The punjee people have also lodged a case, following which the court asked us to show cause. The matter is under official process.”

Meanwhile, local lawmaker Abdus Shahid has sent a DO letter to the DC office, asking for giving the land to the ethnic minority people.

Our Lalmonirhat Correspondent adds: When the Christian community celebrate their biggest religious festival Christmas, the family of slain Anando Mohan Barmon are staying away from their Banderkura village home in Kaliganj upazila under the district.

“I with my two daughters and a son have taken shelter at a relative's house in Lalmonirhat town in fear of fresh attack by the killers, who are still at large,” Anando's wife Kalpona Rani said.

Anando, 47, son of late Dakkhina Chandra Barmon of Banderkura village, was tortured and strangled to death on 20 May this year.

The case is now under investigation by Criminal Investigation Department.