Bangladeshi farmers illegally takeover lands

Over and above, the Bangladeshi farmers illegally takeover of our lands in connivance with their frontier border guards-BDR beyond the said international border is frequent. Because, they are very much strategically located and due to the said international boundary is not clearly demarcated. As a result, the conflict over possession of land of our IBV hamlet (with our innocent and simple peasants) is common phenomenon here. In this context, we always seek and keep our international frontier border guard – BSFI to solve the disputes smoothly. But, the recovery process is tricky”, sums up Rafiqul Alam, sitting barely a kilometer from the hazy zero-line, which divides the said two countries.

“And that’s not all, we have to ask for authorization from the BSFI, when we sell our produce in the International Border Haat (IBH)s, locally known as, weekly-markets of the Indian mainland. On our way back from the IBH, we have to account for each and everything we have purchased, be it medicines, rice, salt, cloth, bicycle, poultry or cattle”, said angrily, Rahamat Ali, inhabitant of Antupara village under Jalpaiguri district of the Indian State, WB.

“After independence, we still feel ‘living like caged animals’. We are not Indians and doesn’t our Indian Constitution guarantee freedom of movement. Why we have to face unnecessary harassment and even physical torture at the hands of our said force?

We know very much that IBIB and its problems are a geographical quirk and bureaucratic bungling. But, we are ready to leave our respective village, if Government of India provides us ‘land’ beyond IBWBF. It is like living in a container with no hope of a better future”, expressed disheartened Narayan Biswas, native of Char Meghna village under Nadia district of the Indian State, WB, which is situated on the riverbank of the river Mathavanga that divides India and Bangladesh respectively.

“I have own 20 to 25 Bigha (01,28,000 square-feet to 01,60,000 square-feet or 02,88,000 square-feet to 03,60,000 square-feet)s of land, which give us enough to lead a relaxed life. But, unfortunately, today, the land prices also have crashed from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 01,00,000 per acre to Rs. 02,000 to Rs. 05,000, while sometimes, ‘priceless’; because, the land has fallen outside of the said IBWBF. Not only that we can’t sell our forefathers land, which is become out of ethics, even, it is very difficult for most to sell their land and move away”, said Abul Khayeri, wearing a white gruenzy, green lungi and ash coloured cap on his head.

Mamoda Bibi and Rashida Bibi, who live in a fenced-in aforesaid IBV-Nirmalchar along India’s boundary with Bangladesh is manacled to a timetable fix by the Indian frontier international border guard – BSFI, bemoans, “If we’re not needy we would have moved away a long time ago ….. what we will do? It’s our fate and we are compelled to stay here by hook or by crook.

Not only that the most painful thing, when our IBV people being harassed, mistreatment and tortured by the BDR soldiers, who choose us at the least opportunity and blaming us of spying for India. In a nutshell, for our IBV populace have confined in between the BSFI on our side and BDR on the opposite, here lives are burdened with peril”.

“They have simply been thrown to the wolves. 10 numbers of IBVs (Pirnagar, Nayamura, Latukandi, Deutali, Gobindopur, Kurikhal, Kachubari, Sandesh, Tesua, Uttar-Lafasail) of Suterkandi and Latu Blocks areas under Karimganj district of the State, Assam has been knowingly kept behind the IBWBF, where about 01,500 numbers to 02,000 numbers of odd inhabitants always face the wrath of Bangladeshi anti-social circles and as a result of this, it has built a sense of insecurity among the said Indian IBVs”, said former Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Karimganj district of the State, Assam, Longki Pangcho.

“The district headquarter town, Karimganj is situated on the bank of the river Kushiyanra, which separates India and Bangladesh. However, if the IBWBF is made 150-metres inside Indian side from the zero-point as per United Nations (UN) protocol, a vast area of the town’s trade will fall on the Bangladesh territory. Not only that more than 40 thousands to 50 thousands residents living in the 24 numbers of IBVs along the said river will be not only trapped on the other side of the said IBWBF but also would be left homeless”, disclosed Hazi Abdul Wahid, president of the All-Party Border Road Areas Citizen’s Rights Committee (APBRACRC) of Karimganj district.

“See….., there’re our 12 numbers of Elementary Primary School, 05 numbers of Middle Schools and several temples and mosques in these 24-numbers of IBVs, which will go under the capture of the Bangladeshis if it goes ahead with the IBWBF in accordance with international norms. We can’t support it at any cost”, said angrily, the member of the APBRACRC, Abdul Basit Chaudhary.

Similarly, to get rid of the unwanted situation that created by the Bangladeshis from time-to-time, the Government of India wanted to demarcate and to erect barrier along the entire said international border with IBWBF to stop the all chaotic law and order situations, including the ‘torture’, which has created by the Bangladeshis anti-social elements with help of BDR personnel.

“But, our everything has gone in the air. In the name of ‘protection’, our lands are been acquired by the Indian Mizoram State Government’s Home Department under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894. Even, bamboo made huts have been either broken or destroyed. However, most astonishing fact is that neither the Indian Central Government nor the Mizoram State Government has any plan to rehabilitate or resettle us.

Around 35,438 numbers of IBVPs of 05,790 numbers of International Border Village Family (IVBF)s in 49 numbers of IBVs, who belong to the ethnic tribe – Chakma and has been living on the banks of 04-numbers of rivers, such as : Harina, Karnaphuli, Sajek and Thega, which outline the natural international boundary between India and Bangladesh, has directly either been displaced or facing displacement due to the acquisition of their lands by the GOI. Even, another Indian tribal community-Mizo, has also faced the similar situation.

The most important thing is that our community, who are residing along the abovementioned Indo-Bangladesh international border are enormously backward and most of the peoples are inaccessible due to the absence of good communication (road)s. The abovementioned 04-numbers of rivers have been chiefly the backbone or lifeline for survival of our society. Because, we are drawing water for drinking, washing, cooking and other purposes, like to conduct business and commerce, as there are no other means of transportation. The most sensible thing is that we also perform the last rites of the deceased on the said riverbanks. Not only that the above riverbanks are fertile and used for several farming like vegetables, paddy, fruits and others cash crops, which have gone behind the above international boundary for IBWBF.