Protest rally held demanding security of land, life of Santals in Gobindaganj

A protest rally was held today  demanding the security of the land and life of the Santals at Rajabirat of Gobindganj upazila in the district.

Adibashi Bangali Sanghati Parishad(ABSP), Manjhi Parishad, Samazik Sangram Parishad and a social platform Jano Uddyog arranged the rally in front of the house of British Saren at Rajavirat, Santal dominated area  under Rajahar union of the upazila this noon.

Presided over by British Saren, a man of Santal community and also a learner  of Gaibandha Law College, the rally was also addressed among others by Waziur Rahman Raphel, convener of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, district unit,  Adv. Sirajul Islam Babu, convener of ABSP and also general secretary of District Bar Association, Philimon Baske, president of Sahebganj-Baghdafarm Bhumi Uddhar Committee, Probir Chakrabartee, member secretary of Jano Uddyog, social worker Golam Rabbani and Santal leader Suchitra Murmu. 

The speakers in their speeches said a team of land grabbers led by local union parishad chairman Rafiqul Islam attacked the house of British Saren causing Philumina Hasda, mother of Saren was seriously injured. Then she was admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College, Bogura for treatment.  

In that night, the men of chairman also set fire to British Saren house. Following the incident, Julius Saren, younger brother of British Saren filed a case with Gobindaganj Thana accusing the chairman and his co-horts.

Then the police arrested the chairman from Dhaka and sent him to jail hazot through court. After releasing on bail , the chairman and his men gave threat to Saren and his family members.

At one stage, the chairman and his men interrupted  the providing of irrigation water to the land of the Santal for Boro farming. In addition to it, they also surrounded the graveyard of the Santal with strong net so that none could use it for burial purpose. Following the incidents, the Santal are passing their days and nights with insecurity and in horror. 

In this context, they demanded of the government for ensuring their safety through bringing the chairman and his men under trial without delay.