Protect Khasi land from forced plantation: Eminent citizens urge Sylhet DC

Thirteen environmentalists, rights activists, and prominent citizens have issued a letter to Sylhet divisional commissioner, demanding the protection of ancestral and customary land of the Khasi people living in Daluchhara and Belkuma Khasia Punji -- located in Moulvibazar's Kulaura upazila -- from forced plantation projects.

In the letter issued on Saturday, the signatories termed the Kulaura upazila administration, police and forest department as the "beneficiaries" of the project that will see the forced plantation of trees on Daluchhara Khasia Punji land on Sunday.

The signatories said the forest department implementing a flawed project like this one in the name of social forestry raises serious questions, and requested the administration not to undertake any such project that destroys natural forests.

The Khasis have been living in their ancestral lands for ages. Various international charters, including the United Nations, have recognised the indigenous culture of preserving ancestral lands. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's government also ratified the ILO Convention 107 in 1972, recognising the ancestral land rights of the indigenous people, the letter stated.

The signatories also highlighted that the forest department unilaterally undertook the project without discussing it with the Khasis and ignored social forestry policies as well, creating several issues and complications with the Khasis.

Some miscreants have already destroyed the Khasi-owned betel nut garden and even attacked them, claimed the signatories in the letter.

The media has shed light on this issue recently, prompting a meeting between the Khasi leadership and the forest and environment minister to solve the issues.

The letter was signed by Sultana Kamal, president of Bapa; Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori; Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman, former chairman of National Human Rights Commission; Advocate Rana Dash Gupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council; Prof Dr Mesbah Kamal, vice-chancellor of Primeasia University; Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director of BELA; Shamsul Huda, executive director of ALRD; Sharmin Murshid, former member of National River Conservation Commission; Sharif Jamil, general secretary of Bapa; Nirmal Rozario, president of Bangladesh Christian Association; Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum; Father Joseph Gomes, regional coordinator of Adivasi Poribesh Rokkha Andolon, and Abdul Karim, general secretary of Bapa Sylhet.