After leading a form of nomadic life in the forests and at the houses of the relatives, 57 families of Bom Commuity returned to their homesteads at Paingkhang Para village of Bandarban after long eight months.
After visiting the remote Paingkhang Para area under the Sadar union of Roangchhari upazila, this correspondent found the families who had fled their houses have returned to their paternal houses on Monday noon again.
Pitor Bom, Village Headman of Paingkhang Para informed due to the operation of the Armed Forces against the outlawed mercenaries of KNF, 97 panicked families of the village fled their houses during the last April this year and took shelter to the houses of their relatives and inside the faraway forests and jungles. In cooperation with and assistance from the Members of the Armed Forces, about 200 of members of 57 families who escaped their houses in April last, have turned to their houses again. Rest of 40 families will also return to their houses soon, he informed further.
Roatalian Bom, Assistant Teacher of Paingkhang Para Government Primary School informed, the school remained closed for the last seven months since all students of the village fled to safe shelters with their family members. The students have returned to their classes from yesterday. He hoped, the classes will again be filled up with the students within a next couple of days.
Lucky Lalrin Jual Bom reads in class V at Paingkhang Para Gov't Primary School. She said, there are four students in their class. The school has been opended from Sunday and she was happy that she would be able to attend her school regularly from now on. She further mentioned that they do not want to flee their homes further and after the completion of her study she wants to become a Nurse to help people.
Mehla Aung Marma, Chairman of Roangchhari Sadar Union informed, the residents of Paingkhang Para villages have started to return their homesteads after long eight months. He pledged all cooperation for the returnees from the Union Parishad.
Lal Jar Lom Bom, President of Bom Social Council informed, after holding a successful meeting with the Peace Settlement Committee with the KNF, the ban on visiting local markets and purchasing of goods has been withdrawn from November-14. In answer to another question, he informed, the issues of the food crisis of the people of Paingkhang Para have been discussed with the Chairman of Bandarban Parbattya Zila Parishad and he expressed his hope to get necessary cooperation to resolve the crisis.
Lieutenant Colonel Mahmudul Hasan, Zone Commander of Bandarban Sadar Zone of Bangladesh Army informed, the 57 returnee families at Paingkhangpara will be provided with all cooperations. They have been assured of all sort of assistance from the Security Forces. Already the Members of Armed forces have started the works of necessary Medical Support and Treatment for the resettled families and the works will be further intensified after the repairing of the roads connecting the village. Already Parbattya Chattogram Unnayan Board has started the repairing works of Roangchhari-Paingkhangpara road under the supervision of the Armed Forces.
The road will be opened for movement within a short time and the Peace and Economic stability among local people will resume, he hoped.