Stop land commission activities in CHT
Agitating hill people also demand removal of justice Khadem as LC chief
Indigenous people in Rangamati and Khagrachhari yesterday demanded
immediate postponement of the ongoing activities of Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission (CHTLDRC) and removal of Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury as its chairman.
Hundreds of ethnic people with banners, placards and festoons joined a human chain in Rangamati town yesterday demanding stoppage of land commission activities, reports our Rangamati correspondent.
They also sent a memorandum to the prime minister through the deputy commissioner of Rangamati in this regard.
CHT Nagorik Committee, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Jum Aesthetic Council, MN Larma Memorial Foundation and Movement for Protection of Forest and Land Rights in CHT for Indigenous People organised the 'human chain' in New Court Building area of the town.
Although a meeting chaired by land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira in Rangamati on October 10 decided to bring about some changes to the Land Commission Act-2001 before resolving land disputes, the land commission (LC) chief on December 13 issued a letter requesting its members to attend the hearings on applications of the affected people on December 27 and 29, the ethnic leaders said.
After his appointment as the chief of the commission in July 2009, Justice Khademul held only one meeting with the members of the commission, they said.
But ignoring four members of the commission, he held a number of meetings with the local administration and took unilateral decisions for carrying out cadastral survey in CHT, circulated public notice for submitting application by affected people about disputed lands and continued campaign in favour the ongoing activities, they said.
Holding Justice Khademul responsible for working in favour of a vested quarter, they alleged that the LC chief has received applications from settler Bangalees who grabbed lands owned by indigenous people and he himself is doing everything including sorting of applications submitted by affected people.
Member of CHT Nagorik Committee Prof Moung Shanu Chowdhury, Convenor of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, CHT unit Prakriti Ranjan Chakma, President of Jum Aesthetic Council advocate Mihir Baran Chakma, President of MN Larma Memorial Foundation Mongal Kumar Chakma and Secretary of CHT Forests and Land Rights Movement Sudatta Bikash Tangchangya spoke on the occasion.
Our Khagrachhari Correspondent adds: Leaders of four indigenous forums yesterday formed a human chain in front of Khagrachhari Press Club demanding removal of Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission Chairman Justice (rtd) Khademul Islam Chowdhury for his 'controversial initiative' to start hearings on applications of the land dispute on December 27 and 29.
At a protest meeting at noon in front of Khagrachhari Press Club with Jumma Saronarthi Kalyan Samity President Pravakor Chakma in the chair, they urged the government to amend the controversial sections of CHT affairs Land Commission Act-2001 before start of hearing or resolving disputes.
Ignoring the decision of October 10 meeting at Rangamati to bring some changes to the Land Commission Act-2001 before resolving land disputes, LC Chairman on December 13 issued a letter requesting its members to attend the hearings on the two days, speakers said at the meeting.
President of Khagrachhari Karbari Association Romesh Tripura, General Secretary of Khagrachhari Headman Association Swadesh Prity Chakma and Parbatya Chattagram Nagorik Committee President Nirapod Talukder spoke among others.
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