Indigenous members return to Madhupur Nat'l Park Committee
Officials assure resolution of their problems
All six indigenous members who had resigned from the Madhupur National Park Committee yesterday withdrew heir resignation letters and joined it again.
Their decision followed their meeting with high officials of district and upazila administrations and forest department. The meeting was held at Madhupur Upazila Nirbahi Officer's office yesterday.
Earlier on Thursday, the forest department withdrew the case filed against local indigenous people and their leaders on September 17.
Madhupur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Dr MA Parvez Rahim presided over the meeting addressed by Tangail Deputy Commissioner (DC) Akhter Ali Sarkar, Police Superindent (SP) Mohammad Abdul Mannan, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abdullah-al-Mamun and Father Subrato Tolento of Jalchhatra Church.
Local indigenous leaders including the six who had resigned earlier from the National Park Committee also addressed the meeting. The six are Ajoy-a-Mre, Ugin Nokrake, Shekhor Mrang, Stiphen Chambu Gang, William Dazel and Pronath Mring.
Indigenous leader and president of Joinshahi Adivashi Unnayon Parishad Ajoy-a-Mre told The Daily Star that they decided to withdraw their resignation letters as DC Akhter Ali Sarkar assured them to resolve all their land related problems immediately.
The September 17 case against some local indigenous people and their leaders was filed as they allegedly resisted forest department's bid to plant trees on their lands in Beribaid area earlier on the same day.
After the incident, all the six indigenous members of Madhupur National Park Committee resigned on September 19.
Forest and Environment Adviser Dr CS Karim formed the 12-member committee during a visit to Madhupur on March 9 to solve the problems involving the indigenous people. The committee is headed by Madhupur UNO DR MA Parvez Rahim.
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