AL Man's Greed for Land in Sitakunda

Hindu fishermen under immense pressure

5 April 2010, 18:00 PM

DU Correspondent

Hindu fishermen living at Sitakunda in Chittagong yesterday alleged that cadres loyal to local AL lawmaker Abul Kashem Master are threatening them to leave their houses to extend the land of a industry run by a follower of the lawmaker. The cadres often come at the dead of night, loot valuables and ask Hindu people to leave the houses, said Sachindra Lal Dey, a leader of the minority community at the area, at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. He also alleged that local authorities, including police, are not playing their due role, rather they are providing support to the ruling party men. "Before the last parliamentary elections, these ruling party men came and requested us to vote for Awami League. We responded to their call but they are torturing us today," said Sachindra, general secretary of the committee to resist repression on minority community. Harilal Das, general secretary of Chittagong Fisherman Welfare Association, said the AL-backed men are continuously torturing fishermen at Shitalpur of Sitakunda and threatening them to leave their houses. The leaders further alleged that criminals snatch away fishes giving low price whenever fishermen return after fishing. If anyone protests, criminals assault him and vandalise his fishing equipment. The minority leaders said a number of families of minority communities have already lost their lands as they left their houses following torture of local cadres. Sachindra said they staged demonstrations on a number of occasions and submitted memorandum to the prime minister, the home minister and police high-ups but to no avail. The Hindu leader urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take immediate steps to save the fishermen, their families and lands from the grip of local ruling party people.