They sought immediate steps by the relevant authorities to help 72 allegedly confined Khasi families of the area in keeping their rightful ownership over the land.
The press conference at the National Press Club was jointly arranged by the Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Kapeng Foundation, Indigenous Peoples’ Development Services (IPDS), KUBORAZ (Kulaura, Juri, Borolekha and Raznagar upazilas) Inter Punji Development Association, Research and Development Collective (RDC), Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Bangladesh Legal Aids and Services Trust (BLAST), the Nijera Kori NGO, and the Association for Land Reform and Rural Development (ALRD).
Bangladesh Adivasi Forum General Secretary Sanjib Drong, presenting the keynote paper at the event, said although the Khasis have been living there for the past 100 years, the government has leased 661.55 acres of land to Kedarpur Tea company ignoring the Khasis’ 2011 appeal for settlement.
“More than 200 acres of land has been occupied illegally by the Jhimai tea garden authorities...and they are constantly looking for means to cut down trees for the sake of garden extension,” Drong said.
He also alleged that the tea garden authorities are obstructing the movement of Khasis.
“The main entrance to Punji now houses a gate to control the movement of the Khasi...sometimes even ambulances aren’t allowed inside,” said Sanjib.
Nijera Kori coordinator and human rights activist Khushi Kabir said a conspiracy is going on to evict the Khasi families in the name of tea-garden expansion.
“It is clear that a certain group is plotting to throw the Khasis out of their ancestral homes in Jhimai Punji under the guise of land allocation,” she said.
She urged the government to ensure land safety for the ethnic Khasi and said, “If necessary the settlement of the tea garden land should be cancelled.”
Khushi Kabir demanded exemplary punishment for crimes and rights violations by the tea garden authorities, who attacked Khasis
Oikya Nap President Pankaj Bhattacharya said illegal measures are being taken to unjustly remove Khasis from Jhimai Punji.
“They (Khasi) are being pressurised. It’s our civic duty to stand up for them,” he said.
He urged the government to form a high level inquiry committee to find a solution to this problem.
Khasi residents of the Jhimai Punji present at the press conference spoke about several adversaries they face because of the Jhimai tea-garden expansion.
The Jhimai tea garden has been cultivating tea since 1929 on leased-out land which was last renewed in 2012.