Hill Voice, 24 June 2025, Dhaka: Indigenous students and youth organizations formed a human chain and held a protest march in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh, Dhaka, today, 24 June 2025, at 3:30 PM. They demanded the return of ancestral property belonging to the Santal people in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, justice for the murder of three Santals, and an immediate halt to the government-announced Export Processing Zone (EPZ) construction.

Human chain and protest march were presented by Dhaka University teacher Professor Robayet Ferdous, Indigenous Rights Movement convener Ujjal Azim, Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum member Ripon Chandra Banai, Kapaeeng Foundation representative Trijinad Chakma, Sahebganj-Bagda Farm Land Salvation Committee president Philemon Baske, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad international affairs officer Khokon Sweeten Murmu, Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum vice president Tony Chiran, Hill Women’s Federation president Shanti Devi Tanchangya, and Bangladesh Marma Students Council general secretary Aungshoiching Marma.

The Garo Students Union (GASU), Bangladesh Garo Students’ Association (BAGACHAS), Garo Students Federation (GSF), Mahato Students’ Association (MISAF), Santal Students’ Union (SASU), Hajong Students’ Council (HASUK), Tripura Students’ Forum, Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Tanchangya Students’ Welfare Forum expressed solidarity with the human chain.

Ujjal Azim said that although the Bangladesh government is a signatory to ILO Convention 107, it continues to deceive indigenous peoples. Despite their long-standing struggle for survival, their existence remains threatened. The situation of indigenous peoples in the plains is as exploitative as that in the hills.

Philemon Baske stated that the fascist behavior of past governments toward indigenous communities is now being perpetuated by the regime of interim government. The state’s unwillingness to recognize indigenous rights is reflected in the killing of the three Santal men.

Tony Chiran said, “If I am evicted from my land, then why I have to protest against? What role is the state playing then? You warn of resistance if the EPZ construction is blocked — we, the indigenous people, also declare that if you do not cancel the EPZ project, we will resist you.”

Trijinad Chakma pointed out that although there has long been a demand for a separate land commission for indigenous peoples in the plains, the government has ignored it. In the hills, development rhetoric is being used to displace communities. The Lusai and Mro people are being evicted in the name of tourism. When indigenous peoples speak of rights, they face state repression.

Shanti Devi Tanchangya said, “Indigenous communities are not against development. But any development project that causes to destroy our customs and traditions will be strongly resisted.”

Aungshoishing Marma added, “Whenever you speak of development, we indigenous peoples become afraid — because your development always smells of our eviction. I remind you of the armed struggle in the Chittagong Hill Tracts from 1976 to 1997. We want to live with dignity and rights. Any denial of that will not end well.”

The rally was chaired by Ananta Tanchangya, President of the Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad, and Antony Rema, President of the Bangladesh Adivasi Jubo Forum. The rally was welcomed by Saisanu Marma, Organizational Secretary of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Pahari Chhatra Parishad.

After the rally, the protest procession began in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh and ended with a march around the Dhaka University campus.

The speakers at the rally raised the following six demands, including the immediate return of Santal ancestral land, justice for the three murders, and cancellation of the EPZ project:

1. The land occupied by Bagda Farm in Sahebganj, Gobindaganj, Gaibandha must be returned to the original owners—the Santal people—along with appropriate compensation, as per the agreement.

2. An impartial investigation into the murder of the three Santals (Shyamol Hembram, Mangal Mardi, and Ramesh Tudu), as well as the arson of Santal homes, must be ensured. The perpetrators must be arrested and given exemplary punishment.

3. Adequate compensation must be provided to the Santals injured in the brutal attack on 6 November 2016.

4. The government’s plan to build an EPZ on Santal ancestral land must be cancelled.

5. All false cases filed against indigenous people in connection with the incident must be withdrawn. Harassment must stop, and their safety must be ensured.

6. A separate land commission and a separate ministry must be established for the indigenous peoples of the plains.