Hill voice, 15 September 2020, Tangail: A human chain and demonstration was held in protest against eviction of indigenous Garo people from their lands and cut down their crops in the name of forest protected by the forest department in Madhupur of Tangail district. The human chain and demonstration was held at the 25 Mile Bazar under the banner of the united Indigenous students and people of Madhupur today 15 September 2020 at 10:00 am.

Eugene Knorrek, chairman of the Jayenshahi Adivasi Unnoyon Parishad presided over the human chain while Prabin Chisim, Organizing Secretary of Jayenshahi Adivasi Unnoyon Parishad, Shyamal Mankhin, Former Vice-President of Bagachas central committee, Satyajit Nakrek, Former General Secretary of Garo Student Federation (GSF) of Madhupur Upazila Branch, Anik Dibra, Education and Literature Secretary of DSF central committee, Prince Edward Mansang, rights activist, Milon Dafo General Secretary of Bagachhas Madhupur Upazila Branch. This program conducted by Liang Richil, general secretary of the GSF central committee.

Speakers at the human chain said, this is our abima of Madhupur. We were here before this protected forest. We have our friendship with this forest. We make a living with this forest. But after the emergence of an independent country called Bangladesh, there is no end to the eviction and land grabbing of Madhupur.

The speakers also strongly condemned inhumane acts such as misconduct and forcible land grabbing by the forest department. Jamal Hossain Talukder, Assistant Commissioner of Forest Department, Ranger Abdul Ahad and all the officials involved in the misdemeanor were demanded to be brought to justice. Speakers from the human chain program strongly demanded to ensure the safety of the victim Basanti Rema with proper compensation. Residents of the area, who were outraged by the Forest Department, announced to barricade the Dokhla Range Forest Department office at 10:00 am tomorrow demanding to stop the violence and harassment.

It is to be noted that on 14 September 2020 Saturday at around 10:00 am around 40 percent of banana crops of Basanti Rema and Getis Jetra (the financial value of which is around Tk. 3 lakh) were cut down by the forest department under the leadership of Jamal Hossain Talukder, assistant commissioner of forest department in Pegamari village of Sholakuri union under Madhupur upazila of Tangail district without any notice.