Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA3982
2005-08-11 08:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

RECENT CASES OF DISTURBANCES FOR MINORITY

Tags:  PHUM BG 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003982 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2010
TAGS: PHUM BG
SUBJECT: RECENT CASES OF DISTURBANCES FOR MINORITY
COMMUNITIES


Classified By: Econ Chief David Renz, reason 1.4(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003982

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2010
TAGS: PHUM BG
SUBJECT: RECENT CASES OF DISTURBANCES FOR MINORITY
COMMUNITIES


Classified By: Econ Chief David Renz, reason 1.4(d)


1. (U) In the space of six weeks, there have been three
reported cases of disturbances in minority communities in
different parts of Bangladesh: a forced eviction of 65
indigenous and Hindu families in Dinajpur District, north
west Bangladesh; Christian owned shops set on fire in Barisal
Division, south Bangladesh; and a forced eviction of
approximately 300 people in the Moulovibazar district, north
east Bangladesh.


2. (SBU) On June 22, government officials evicted 65 families
from their land in order to establish a government project in
the same place. According to press reports, the 65 evicted
families consisted of 15 families from the indigenous Santali
Christian community and 50 Hindu families. Sanjeeb Drong,
General Secretary for Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum,
told poloff that the government project is the construction
of a "model village" where they would relocate 150 families
from other areas and construct low-cost housing. Drong said
after garnering support from local media and other activist
groups, the evicted families returned to the land on July 25
in an unsuccessful effort to reclaim the area. While all the
homes on the land have been destroyed, the government has not
started building and the project is still pending according
to Drong.


3. (U) On July 23, according to press reports four Christian
owned stores were burnt down in the Barisial area. The
motivations behind the arson attack are unclear. One of the
shop owners was missing for a few days, but has now returned.
He has not, however, spoken publicly of why he had
disappeared. Police have arrested five people in connection
with the arson case.


4. (SBU) On Aug 3, forest department officials, reportedly,
together with local Bengali settlers, forcibly removed
approximately 300 indigenous Khasia people from their land in
the Moulovibazar district and destroyed some of their betel
leaf gardens. According to local press reports, forest
department officials also destroyed betel leaf gardens, the
main source of income for Khasias in that region, on July 27.
Father Joseph Gomes, a local activist, told poloff that the
Khasia families had taken lease of the land and were paying
taxes but forest department officials maintained that the
Khasias had been living and cultivating betel leaf on forest
department land. Gomes said Khasia leaders have filed a suit
against the government.


5. (C) COMMENT: Three incidents involving Bangladesh's
minority communities in less than six weeks is unusual.
While individually notable, this cluster does not necessarily
signal a trend of increasing hostilities towards minority
communities. We will continue to monitor the treatment of
minority communities closely. END COMMENT
CHAMMAS