Election 2008

Indigenous people to cast 'No' vote to protest false pledges of past MPs

Soren compaigning against grand alliance man in Dinajpur-6

17 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Kongkon Karmaker, Dinajpur

The indigenous people of Dinajpur-6 constituency would cast 'No' votes this time as no candidate in the past fulfilled their election pledges on the issues of local indigenous people or commitments including solution to land grabbing and realising of their constitutional rights. Two candidates are vying from the seat in the forthcoming parliamentary election- JP leader and AL led grand alliance nominee Delwar Hossain and Jamaat's Md. Anwarul Islam who is a candidate of BNP-led 4-party alliance. Both are out of favour of indigenous people. According to local sources, the indigenous people used to ignore Jamaat candidate for his use of religion in politics. Local sources say, the indigenous leaders of the constituency including Rabindra Nath Soren, who was denied nomination by the Grand Alliance for Dinajpur-6 seat have been campaigning at the constituency against the Grand Alliance candidate terming him alleged land grabber of indigenous people in the four upazilas of Dinajpur. Md. Delwar Hossain is a rebel Awami League leader who got JP ticket after failing to clinch AL nomination from the constituency. Besides, his nomination from AL led Grand Alliance upset the dedicated leaders and supporters of AL and its other allies. Talking to the Daily Star Rabindra Nath Soren alleged that most land of indigenous people of the area have been grabbed by the musclemen of former lawmakers including Jamaat's Md. Azizul Haque. Besides, he said that this time AL led grand alliance has nominated JP leader Delwar Hossain who had grabbed indigenous people's lands. Delwar Hossain could not be contacted for comments as his cell phone was found switched off. While visiting Nawabganj, Hakimpur and Ghoraghat of Dinajpur-6 constituency The Daily Star Correspondent found most indigenous leaders and activists are on the field urging the indigenous people to cast 'no' votes. Rabindra Nath Soren, General Secretary of National Indigenous People's Council, told the Daily Star that Dinajpur-6 constituency has more than 80,000 indigenous voters out of total 3,74,107 voters. He alleged that about 5000 acres land of Indigenous people have been grabbed and 10 indigenous people have been killed since BNP led 4 party alliance came to power in 2001. Komol Soren, a victim of land grabbers alleged that no one is heeding the indigenous people's demands.