Plight of Khasis, Garos living Bangladesh discussed in Assembly

Raising a Zero Hour notice on the floor of the House on the concluding day of the Autumn Session of the 10th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (MLA), Lyngdoh brought to attention a news report of large acres of betel nut plantations of the Khasis having been destroyed by the government officials in the name of “afforestation” at Moulvibazar, Bangladesh.

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SHILLONG:

Congress legislator from Umroi, George B. Lyngdoh, on Friday raised the issues of the safety and security of the Khasi, Jaiñtia, and Garo communities residing in Bangladesh, following reports of alleged harassment by officials there.

Raising a Zero Hour notice on the floor of the House on the concluding day of the Autumn Session of the 10th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (MLA), Lyngdoh brought to attention a news report of large acres of betel nut plantations of the Khasis having been destroyed by the government officials in the name of “afforestation” at Moulvibazar, Bangladesh.

On September 2 again, more than 500 people belonging to the Khasi–Jaiñtia and Garo communities reportedly protested at Moulvibazar to vent their grievances.

“There were also allegations of Khasis being physically assaulted. Based on these reports, I brought this Zero Hour notice, as we stand in solidarity with our Khasi–Jaiñtia and Garo people living in Bangladesh, who got separated due to partition. However, the spirit of fraternity has not diminished, though we are separated by boundaries,” Lyngdoh said.

The Congress MLA urged the state government to take proactive steps in conveying the concerns of the Khasi–Jaiñtia and Garo across the border to the Government of India, while appealing to the Bangladesh government to protect the rights of the tribal minorities of their country.

He also urged the state government to select a delegation of MLAs to meet Bangladeshi Khasis, Jaiñtias, and Garos “as a show of solidarity with our kith and kin”, but also to discuss the discrimination with Bangladeshi authorities.

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma responded in the affirmative regarding the situation in Moulvibazar, noting the “tremendous pressure” on the communities of “being evicted from their rightful lands” by the social forestry department of Bangladesh.

He said such attacks have been intermittently reported from across the border, and that a memorandum was sent by a social activist and journalist to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, requesting her to intervene into the matter.

However, he also informed the House that this is a matter for the External Affairs Ministry, but the state government has also “taken the initiative of forwarding the memorandum to the Government of India for their information and necessary action”. The matter is currently being followed through.

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