Tension mounts as Bangalees' deadline expires today

Many local people this correspondent talked to yesterday said they apprehend violence between Bangalees and Biharis if the authorities do not take immediate steps to resolve the matter.

Despite protests, the authorities are proceeding with a plan to allot the 1000 houses in the project to Biharis, some Bangla-speaking people alleged. Their decision violates government's earlier decision announced through a gazette published on May 12, 1997, they claimed.

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The February 28 deadline was announced at a February 25 public meeting of several thousand distressed Bangla-speaking people living around the project. The meeting was held at Wapda Nutan Hat near the project.

The meeting followed days of rallies and processions demanding allotment of the houses among distressed Bangla-speaking people.

At the meeting, the leader of the agitating people, Abul Hasan Bulu, had said that the authorities "must change the decision or face tougher programmes from February 29".

As per the gazette, distressed freedom fighters, victims of erosion by river and land requisition, divorced women, landless farmers and Bangladeshi citizens are eligible to apply for the houses.

But the Syedpur Upazila Nirbahee Officer (UNO) invited applications only from Urdu- speaking people, it was reported earlier.

The Bangla-speaking people alleged that their applications were rejected and applications of Bibaris and stranded Pakistanis were accepted. The allotment process has almost been finalised, they claimed.

When contacted, ruling BNP lawmaker from Syedpur Amzad Hossen Sarkar said, "Allotment (of houses in Uttara Housing Project) will be given to distressed Biharis to reduce their sufferings. This decision is final.

"The previous announcement (made in the gazette) is cancelled".

Some local people also raised questions about silence of local Awami League leaders over the issue.

When contacted, some mid-level AL leaders said some of their leaders were arrested after the party's hartal and some others are fleeing homes.

The two-room housing units are in 100 barracks with three community centres, one mosque and a market. The project was completed about two months back.

The Prime Minister is likely to inaugurate the Tk four crore project built by army. The inauguration may take place on February 14 but the schedule has not been finalised, officials said.