US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3982

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