Lama Sarai Bhumi Raksha Sangam Committee held a press conference in Dhaka to demand protection of 400 acres of last resort land of local residents in Bandarban. This press conference was held on Monday in the 'Zahur Hossain' hall room of the Dhaka National Press Club.
The press conference stressed to stop the land grabbing by Lama Rubber Industries and return all the lands expropriated by the company including 400 acres of Jum land occupied by Mro and Tripura; Adequate compensation to Mro and Tripura affected by the activities of the company; Ensure the arrest and punishment of Kamal Uddin, Moazzem Hossain, Zahir Uddin Gong involved in the destruction of natural environment and biodiversity by cutting and burning Jum land, vandalism and looting of Buddha statues at Ashoka Buddhist Vihara and attack on Rangdhajan Tripura convener of Bhumi Raksha Sangam Committee; It has been demanded to withdraw the false case filed by the company in the name of 11 people including the leaders of Bhumi Raksha Committee and cancel the lease of all the land given to various individuals and organizations including Lama Rubber Industries Limited for the purpose of creating rubber and other gardens or tourism development in Bandarban.
Convener of Lama Sarai Bhumi Raksha Sangam Committee Rangdhajan Tripura presented a written statement at the press conference. Lama Sarai Bhumi Raksha Committee's member secretary Langkom Mro, joint convener Rengen Mro, joint convener Fadram Tripura, joint convener Songle, member Mothi Tripura, member Ruipao Mro were present. Also, various political parties, human rights organizations, leaders of student organizations and various professionals were present in the press conference.
Convener of Bhumi Raksha Committee, Rangdhajan Tripura, said in a written statement at the press conference, "We have 400 acres of Jum land belonging to the Mro and Tripura communities in No. 303 Doluchari Mauza of Sarai Union under Lama Upazila of Bandarban District, which we three villagers Langkam Para (Mro Karbari), Joy 39 families of Chandra Para (Tripura) and Rengyen Para (Mro) have been occupying the land.
Last April 2022 Lama Rubber Industries Limited Chairman Moazzem Hossain, Project Director Md. Kamal Uddin, Managing Director Zahirul Islam Gong hired more than 200 Rohingyas displaced from Myanmar and took refuge in Bangladesh and forcibly occupied the land of the residents of Langkam Para, Joy Chandra Para and Rengen Para.
Try and clear our planted fruit trees like pineapples, plums, mangoes, yams, kathal trees and bamboo plantations with different species of trees.
Then on April 26, they set fire to the garden of that land and destroyed property worth lakhs of rupees, including the natural environment.