UN human rights experts call to stop construction of tourism resort in Bandarban

UN human rights experts have said that Bangladesh should suspend the construction of a large-scale tourist resort in the Chittagong Hills Tracts because it "threatens to dispossess the indigenous Mro peoples of their traditional lands and cause serious environmental damage".

They made the call in a statement published on the website of Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights yesterday.

The experts are Francisco Cali Tzay, Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples; Dante Pesce (Chair), Surya Deva (Vice-Chair), Githu Muigai, Elżbieta Karska, and Anita Ramasastry, Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises; David R Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

"We are concerned that threats and intimidation have escalated in January against indigenous human rights defenders who are peacefully defending the land rights of the community," said the experts. "We call on the government to allow peaceful demonstrations, to refrain from threatening protesters and to refrain from the use of force against peaceful assemblies."

"We call on good faith consultations to be held in order to seek the free, prior and informed consent from the affected indigenous community," the experts said. "It is also essential that a thorough environmental and social impact assessment is undertaken in the area."

"The Government of Bangladesh must urgently ensure a safe environment for those who defend the environment and the rights of indigenous peoples and protect them from reprisals," the experts urged.

READ MORE: 5-Star Hotel in Bandarban: 6 Mro villages will be gone