Kapaeeng Foundation

Indigenous Jumma residents of Jhagarabil area including Bilaichari Para and Mitingyachari Para of Jhagarabil mouza in Rangamati protested against land acquisition for establishing Rangamati Science and Technology University evicting them who once uprooted by Kaptai Dam. They also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of the Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh demanding cancellation of the land acquisition.

On 28 December 2014 from 11:00 am to 11:45 am indigenous Jumma residents of Jhagarabil area formed human chain in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office of Rangamati hill district. The event was presided over by Mr. Milan Chakma, chairman of Jhagarabil Goutam Smriti Bouddha Bihar Committee while conducted by advocate Chanchu Chakma. The human chain was addressed by, among others, Asim Chakma, Basuki Karbari et el. The human chain was followed by submission of memorandum to the Prime Minister through Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati hill district. The memorandum was submitted by a delegation of Jhagarabil residents led by Suranjan Chakma, Headman of No. 104 Jhagarabil mouza.

The memorandum was signed by 249 persons including Siratan Dewan, Headman, No. 104 Jhagarabil Mouza; Basuki Chakma, Karbari, Bilaichari Para; Milan Kanti Chakma, president, Goutam Smriti Bouddha Bihar Committee; Chanchu Chakma, lawyer, Rangamati judge court; Asim Chakma, Bilaichari Para; Ratan Chakma, Bilaichari Para et al.

In the memorandum, the indigenous Jumma residents of Jhagarabil area stated that a notice was served to them (around 74 persons) by the Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati Hill District on the basis of L.A. Case No. 02(D)/2014-15(104) dated 17 December 2014 for acquisition of lands covering around 100 acres under Section No. 3(2) of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Acquisition Act 1958 for establishment of Rangamati Science & Technology University.

They mentioned that after having learnt in 2001 that the said University would be established in Jhagarabil mouza, inhabitants of the areas, for would have been evicted from their ancestral homesteads and lands, appealed to the government urging not to establish the university in that area and to cancel the project. Later on, the said Rangamati Science & Technology Project and the order for acquisition of lands under jurisdiction of L.A. Case No. 01(D) 2001-01 dated 28/01/2001 were cancelled. But following assuming the power in 2009 by the grand alliance government led by Awami League, with the initiative resumed by the government to implement the project, the inhabitants of Jhagarabil Mouza again submitted a memorandum to the government on 11 May 2009 appealing to cancel the Rangamati Science & Technology University project.

They further mentioned that the most of the inhabitants residing Jhagarabil area were evicted from their respective homesteads and lands dwelt in for the generations together as the result of Kaptai-Hydro-Electric Dam. In later decades of 1980’s, many of them were evicted for once again due to building of Tourism Motel while many were also evicted for the second time due to establishment of BDR Headquarters. It was due to frequent relocation for several times, many of them had to lead a bohemian life. After having been evicted for the times one after another, they have been living in Jhagarabil areas including Bilaichari Para and Mitingachari Para for last 35 years since 1980. With exertion of heavy toil and financial efforts, they have developed the uncultivated hill slopes to arable and dwelling lands and grown various forestry and fruit gardens. If the proposed project gets implemented, the inhabitants of the areas would face eviction again and that would be very inhuman and of despairing. As a result, an extreme uncertainty and disaster would come down upon their life. Situation as such, they would be left with no certainty of where to go and stand with their family members. In this circumstance, they appealed to the Prime Minister to take the imminent disaster and uncertainty of them into consideration and to cancel the land acquisition process including the implementing process of the project.

List of land owners to whom land acquisition notice issued for establishment of Rangamati Science and Technology University

 * Sumon Chakma total 050+0.15+0.75= 1.75 acre.

** Dr. Asit Boran Das total 0.99+0.86+1.00=2.85 acre.

© Ms. Anuprava Chama total 1.34+0.66+0.50= 2.50 acre.

® Anumadarshi Chakma gang total 8.50+9.00= 17.50 acre.