Lobbing Sumer (40) is the head of a six-member family at Doluchhara punjee in Moulvibazar’s Kulaura upazila. During the last 13 years serving as the Khasi punjee (indigenous village) chief, he had to manage the expenses of seven cases filed by the forest department against the members of their community.

Women sit in a yard trying to sort betel leaves but their heavy hearts barely allow it. The elderly who counted on predictable