Dhaka-Tangail road barricaded for release of aboriginal leaders

On Tuesday, they barricaded the Dhaka-Tangail highway at Telki for about an hour demanding release of the arrested leaders.

They withdrew the barricade after the Modhupur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) accompanied by other officials assured them of releasing the arrested people on the following day (Wednesday).

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They would launch tougher agitation if they are not released, some aboriginal leaders told this correspondent during a visit to the area on Tuesday.

The arrested persons are Ajoy A Mre, Michael Nckrak, Naba Dalbals, Pancharaj Gagra and Albert Mankin.

They were sent to jail when they appeared in a court in Tangail in connection with cases filed for alleged pilferage of timber from reserve forests.

They are among nine people against whom the Tangail Divisional Forest Office recently filed 16 cases with Modhupur police station and Tangail Magistrate Court.

The aboriginal people claimed that the cases are false, filed to thwart their movement against the eco-park. These nine people were engaged in the movement.

They claimed that timbers are being pilfered by some people within the knowledge of forest officials and police but their leaders have been falsely implicated.

This correspondent talked to some local Garo people including Rakhi Mrong, Tapan Marak and Jerum Hagidok.

They alleged that their leaders, accused in "false" cases, are fleeing homes as police are raiding their houses almost every night.

Rakhi Mrong said, "We are aboriginal. We have separate culture, language and tradition.

"We will preserve those at any cost for our existence.

"We made a prayer to the Prime Minister to stop the eco-park work but we did not get any sympathy".

Tapan Marak said, "The forest department in league with police filed the false case against out leaders. We urged the authorities to withdraw the false cases and stop harassment to aboriginal people, but to no effect".

When contacted, Modhupur thana Officer-in-Charge said, "Court will decide whether the cases are false or not. We have to arrest the accused and so were raid their houses".