Protest over destruction of 1,200 betel trees in Kulaura
Local Khasias are outraged after miscreants cut down more than 1,200 mature betel trees belonging to a tribal couple in Ichachhara Khasia Punji under Karmadha Union of Kulaura Upazila in Moulvibazar. They demanded the arrest of those involved and a fair trial, along with proper compensation for the affected indigenous betel farmers.
To press their demands for the security of life and livelihood, Kubraj Inter-Capital Development Organization, Khasi Students Union, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum (Moulvibazar district branch), and Greater Sylhet Adivasi Rights Protection Citizens Committee formed a large human chain in Kulaura municipality on Thursday afternoon.
Hundreds of indigenous men and women, political leaders, and representatives of various organizations participated in the programme.
Among those who spoke at the human chain were former principal of Kulaura Government Degree College Soumya Pradeep Bhattacharya Sajal, Bangladesh JSD central committee organizing secretary Moinul Islam Shamim, Kulaura Upazila Communist Party general secretary Mahbub Karim Mintu, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum central committee member and Kubraj Inter-Capital Development Organisation general secretary Flora Babli Talang, executive member Ripon Banai, Bangladesh Indigenous Forum Moulvibazar vice president Narayan Kurmi, joint general secretary Hiranmoy Singha, Greater Sylhet Indigenous Rights Protection Citizens Committee member secretary Advocate Abul Hasan, and BSD Marxist Kulaura Upazila leader Sadman Soumik Majumdar, among others.
It is worth mentioning that miscreants attacked the betel plantation of Ananta and Saris Lamarai, a tribal couple from Ichachhara Punji, late on the night of March 28, cutting down more than 1,200 mature betel trees.
The estimated market value of the loss is around Tk 12 lakh. Since the incident, there has been widespread anger and fear among the indigenous community.
Ananta filed a written complaint with Kulaura Police Station, and police visited the scene. However, no arrests had been made as of Thursday afternoon.
