AIPP: World Bank funded-project kicks off in Chittagong Hills without meaningful consultation with the Chittagong Hills institutions and indigenous peoples

By: Kapaeeng Foundation

Date: February 8th 2016

Source: Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact

With the intent to construct a 123-kilometer road in Rangamati of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), the Government has started a survey in Rangamati without proper consultation with the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, the apex body to oversee the administration and development activities in the CHT and representative indigenous peoples institutions and organizations.

It is learnt that Government with funding support from the World Bank has initiated a survey under its “Chittagong Hill Tracts Connectivity Project” in the beginning of this year. A representative of World Bank and Economist of said project K S H Rao visited the CHT and met Mr. Brisha Ketu Chakma, chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council in Rangamati on 1 January 2016 (Source: Bangla Tribune, 2 January 2016). It is also reported that Prime Minister approved construction of said border road in the hills. The road would be constructed by Engineering Core of Bangladesh army (Source: CHTTimes24.com, January 4, 2016).

The main objective of the road construction project is to expand trade with the Mizoram state of India. On 30 January 2016 a 7-member delegation of Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Mizoram State led by Nihar Kanti Chakma MLA visited the proposed Land Custom Station at Thegamukh despite boycotting any meeting with the visiting delegation by local indigenous people. The project includes construction of Thega Land Port at the mouth of Thega River under Thega Union in Barkal Upazila of Rangamati Hill District and development of a network of infrastructures connecting different areas of the CHT with the port. The project also includes cosntruction of two land ports at Ramgarh of Khagrachari Hill District. Although the CHT Regional Council has given its consent on the proposed land port at Ramgar, the CHT apex body has not given any consent for land port at Thega Mukh land port considering its possible adverse impacts. But the government has began implementing the project, ignoring the opinion of the CHT Regional Council. The government has developed a raod construction plan that inlcudes construction of Baghairchari-Harina-Thega road, Naniarchar-Longadu-Harina-Thega road, Kaptai-Bilaichari-Jurachari-Thega road, and Rajasthli-Jurachari-Thega road.

According to the eenvironmental experts, if the projectis implemented, it will have serious adverse impacts on natural environment and local people in and around the vicinity of the project. The project would require clearing the forest cover and destroy other natural resources of the projected area. Furthermore, it is feared that there would be wide-scale infiltration of outsiders into the region, which would severely detriment the Jumma-inhabited feature of the region as has been recognized in the CHT Accord.

The Safeguard Policies of the World Bank on Indigenous Peoples (ESS 7) require “free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)” of local indigenous peoples in every stage, from planning to implementation and monitoring, of any World Bank-funded project inindigenous territories. The initiative of the road connectivity project is a clear violation of the World Bank’s Safeguard Policies. In addition, the project violates the CHT Regional Council Act of 1998 which requires consultation with the CHT Regional Council for any kind of development activities in the CHT.

Land Boundary Agreement threatens the livelihood of indigenous villagers of 90 families in Moulavibazar

The livelihood of indigenous Khasi and Garo peoples of Pallathol and Kumarsil under Baralekha upazila in Moulavibazar district, adjacent to Indo-Bangla border fall under serious threat as their ancestral paanjum (betel leaf garden) fall under Indian boundary after recent developments related to Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) between India and Bangladesh took place earlier this year.

The land boundary agreement was signed in 1974 between the Governments of Bangladesh and India but was not ratified by India as it involved transfer of territory which required a constitutional amendment. The land agreement bill aims at giving effect to acquisition of territories by India and transfer of territories to Bangladesh and exchange of enclaves and fixing of boundaries of the countries in line with the 1974 agreement.

The LBA became operational as it was ratified by India. According to the LBA, the 360 acres of paanjum, the main source of living of over 350 indigenous people comprising 60 families of Pallathol village and 30 families of Kumarsil village) has been demarcated as a part of India. It is learnt that the indigenous peoples have been using that land for betel leaf cultivation for generations. After the border agreement bill was passed at the Indian parliament, the traditional occupation of the indigenous people has become threatened. The villagers have been worried that they would be evicted from their homesteads due to loss of their only source of income. Now it is almost certain that chronic poverty and destitution would descend upon them as soon as the process of land exchange is completed between two countries.

According to land records and survey department sources, Pallathol border posts from 1370 to till post 1374, around 360 acres of lands were occupied ‘illegally’ by Bangladesh. Ironically, the indigenous Khasi and Garo peoples carried out betel cultivation on that land. A tea garden of a Bengali person has also fallen under the area. It is also alarming that the villagers have not received any notice from the concerned State authorities regarding the land transfer. Neither had the indigenous people received any announcement of possible rehabilitation and compensation to restore their right to livelihood. Rather, the villagers, including the traditional leaders, were allegedly intimidated by some government officials not to go for any action in this regard. Currently the villagers are passing their days in fear, anxiety and uncertainty.

Obstruction in jum cultivation threatens livelihood of 80 indigenous families in Lama

The livelihood of 80 jum farmer families of Lama upazila under Bandarban district is under threat allegedly due to regular obstruction, intimidation and death threats from Lama Rubber Industries Ltd.

It is learnt that 80 indigenous Jumma families from Natun Para, Dhekichhara Para and Noa Para under 303 No Doluchara mouza in Lama upazila under Bandarban have been involved with jum cultivation (shifting cultivation) for generations. Traditionally, they have collectively possessed the land have enjoyed the right to cultivate on the land. However, in the beginning of this year, 2016, when the villagers from three villages went to work in the jum field, they were obstructed to work by the people of Lama Rubber Industries Ltd. When the farmers asked the reason, Mohammad Arif, manager of Lama Rubber Industries Ltd. claimed that the company took lease 1600 acres of (jum) land comprising of 64 plots, each 25 acres, of land from the government and hence the Jumma villagers were no more allowed to cultivate in that land. Since then the villagers have been restrained from cultivating in the land and received threats including death threats on a regular basis from the company people. Now the livelihood of 80 families is under serious threat.

Source: Kapaeeng Foundation

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