Fresh land grabbing in Naikhyongchari intensified amid recent recommendations to take action against land grabbers
Fresh land grabbing is begun in Naikhyongchari upazila under Bandarban district. Former chairman of Baishari union in Naikhyongchari upazila Md. Faruque Ahmed started this fresh land grabbing at Kamikchara mouza under Baishari union a week ago. He engaged huge Rahingya labourers for clearing jungle of the land for plantation. Local Jumma villagers confirmed that around 1000 acres of land have already been occupied.
On 2 August 2013 local Jumma villagers demolished house temporarily erected by land grabber Md. Faruque Ahmed at Kamikchara mouza.
Local sources also added that land grabbing in Naikhyongchari is continuing or intensified as no land grabber was arrested as per recommendation of investigation report conducted by Md. Alamgir Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of the CHT Affairs (MoCHTA).
It is mentionable that Md. Faruque Ahmed occupied thousands acres of land at Bakkhali mouza under Naikhyongchari union. Local said that he generally occupies land first and then makes plantation by taking money from various business companies or businessmen. At a stage when the plants grew at certain stage within 2/3 years, he hands over land with plantation to the business companies or businessmen. Md. Alamgir Hossain, in his investigation report, mentioned the name of Faruque Ahmed as land grabber, however, did not include his name in the list of 14 land grabbers as he did not occupy land at Baishari mouza, rather occupied at another mouza under Naikhyongchari upazila.
Local villagers demanded to take action against Md. Faruque Ahmed and to stop his land grabbing immediately. If no action has been taken against Faruque Ahmed, thousands of indigenous Jumma people will be evicted from their ancestral land.
