- LAND GRABBING
Settlers try to grab land in Maischari
On 22 December, at 9 A.M. a group of Bengali settlers led by Md. Abdul Hasan, 50, and Md. Arman made an attempt to grab 40 decimal of land belonging to Aungyo Jai Marma son of late Nehla Mong Marma in Maischari under Mahalchari Upazila of Khagrachari district.
The land is situated between Dipi-para and Kongchai Karbari-para in Ward No. 1 of Maischari Union, where Aungyo Jai Marma had created a teak plantation ten years ago.
Mr. Marma, accompanied by some of the villagers, rushed to the spot and prevented the settlers, which led to heated arguments between them.
At one stage, Mahalchari zone Commander Lt. Col. Shahariar Fafqat Bhuiyan and a representative from Mahalchari police station appeared at the scene and took both the land owner and the settlers to the police station.
The Commander is reported to have urged both sides to settle the matter amicably.
Land grab attempt in Lama
There are allegations of attempting to grab land belonging to indigenous Mro and Tripura people in Lama Upazila of Bandarban district against Dulal Mian, Farooq and their cohorts.
Subhash Tripura and Rubel Tripura told a news portal (the daily messenger) on 21 December: “In the years 1984-85 we obtained land grants of third class 5 acres from the government in Yangcha Mouza, Lama Upazila under Holding No. G-34.”
However, all on a sudden Dulal Mian and Farooq claimed that this is plot of land falls within Chagol-khaiya Mouza No. 293 and tried to occupy it by force, in addition to filing a false case against us, they added.
According to local residents, as the price of land has increased sharply in the recent time due to expansion of tourism industry in Mirinja area, incidents of land grabbing are being reported quite frequently.
“Indigenous Mro people in the nearby village are also facing eviction from their ancestral land” they said.
Lingra Mro said that Dulal Mian and Farooq also filed charges against him as well as Daniel Mro and Somoel Mro although they do not have any issue with them.
Menchang Mro, the head or Karbari of Langi-para in Mirinja, said, “We had been living a happy life until recently. But since the setting up of a tourist resort here, things have changed. Now there has been an increase in the incidents of land grabbing.”
He added: “A land grabbers syndicate has rendered our lives miserable. They are resorting to threats, intimidation and court cases to drive us out of our lands.”
