All indigenous people are with you, Shantu Larma tells Garo rally

He was addressing in a rally at Joynagacha GBC School ground in Modhurpur upazila in Tangail on Sunday, arranged to protest the killing of a garo tribesman in police firing on January 3 while protesting construction of a boundary wall for the planned Eco Park in the forest.

Larma said the proposed Eco Park will destroy the ecological balance of Modhupur forest area and displace the Garo people. The plan has been taken up ignoring the indigenous people, who know better than anybody else how to protect the forest resources and develop the area. Such improper planning is threatening the culture and existence of the Garo people. He called upon them to continue their movement.

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Larma claimed that the forest minister had promised to build the Eco Park taking the Garo people into confidence, but they were ignored.

There will be no park by destroying the ecosystem and displacing the indigenous people there, he said.

Larma said indigenous people in other areas of the country are also suffering due to encroachment of their lands and rights by vested quarters, often backed by ruling aprty men.

Pankaj Bottyachargya, Presidium member of Gono Forum, called upon the government to stop the Eco Park project.

Presided over by Ajoy Mree, president of Adibasi Unnayan Parisad, Madhupur, the rally was addressed by, among others, PCJSS General Secretary Chandra Shekhar Chakma, Dhaka University teacher Mesbahuddin and Garo leader Sanjib Drong.