Attack on Mro community a heinous crime: NHRC Chief

Staff Reporter :
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed has assured the Mro community that those behind torching and vandalising houses of a Bandarban village on January 1 will not be spared.
“Attacking, looting and setting fire to the houses of people is a heinous crime. It’s like a gross violation of human rights,” the NHRC Chairman said after visiting the victims at Rengyan Mro Para in Lama upazila on Wednesday.
He said, “Indigenous people living in the hills are very peace-loving and they believe in non-communal spirit. Those who attacked their houses will not be spared.”
Thanking journalists for covering the incident, the Chairman said action will be taken against the culprits after investigation. “In fact, the rights of land owners will be upheld.”
The NHRC Chairman also said there is a need for further investigation in this regard. “The investigation began after the first attack (in Lama’s Sarai area) on April 26 last year. There was a lack of information… I was trying to gather the information. Unfortunately, the incident took place on the night of January 1.”
On April 26 last year, 400 acres of land of Mro and Tripura communities was set on fire in Sarai area of Lama upazila. As a result, 350 acres of jhoom land were destroyed.
Lama Upazila Awami League President and Gazaria UP Chairman Bathoainching Marma, Sarai UP Chairman Md Idris were also present on the occasion.
On behalf of the Sarai Land Protection Committee, its member secretary and the village head Rengain Karbari handed over a memorandum to the chairman. On January 5, a four-member investigation team of the NHRC visited the village.