Notes on Naogaon’s long march
This conversation took place for not too long. We were all walking as part of Jatio Adivasi Parishad’s long march program in Naogaon, heading towards Naogaon’s District Commissioner’s office. The last few kilometers were left from a 65 kilometer long march program. Some of us were joining the second day of the march but the group started this a day earlier from Porsha thana on 26th July. The objective is to submit a letter (sharaklipi) protesting the Porsha atrocity to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. In the letter, signed by the local leaders of Jatio Adivasi Parishad, a brief description is provided of what happened in Porsha on 12th and 13th June '09 respectively, and some demands are also placed.
I am talking to Suresh Murmu (35)whose house have also been attacked and demolished. He had been taking part in the long march for the past two days along with others. “Not all could come as some needs to stay at home” he said. What I gather however is that the home in question is almost non- existent. “All that exists now are the structures of the wall plus some polythene shed supplied from NGOs”, he tells me while diligently walking the roads. Some trucks and bus go past us dangerously close and somewhat disregarding the procession. But the marchers keep on walking, calm and composed. Suresh Murmu confirms that he had actually raised this house just about six months ago. He lived in a nearby place and has decided to settle as this is ‘adivasi’s land’. ‘This has been adivasi people’s land. There is a cremation place too’ he adds. I come to know also about the adivasi brothers who’ve actually owned the land, a total of 22 bigha. According to the news paper reports it is these brothers who have migrated to India and the new claimants, Nur Hossain and his mastan group are now making a claim that the brothers have sold this land to him and his family members. Before the attack took place, the new claimants were forcing one of the nephews of the brothers to help obtain permission for the land. This documentation is needed when a land transfer takes place between an adivasi and a non-adivasi according to law. I ask Suresh Murmu whether he is a relative of any of the brothers. He says, “No”. “Not all are relatives here, some are”, he added.
The Jatio Adivasi Parishad’s member/ leaders tell me that a total of 400 women and men from the Porsha village were taking part in the march. Later, more people joined. On our way to Naogaon’s DC office, curious people look at us. Some ask questions, “What happened? What’s wrong?” Participants in the march at times answer back, “Our houses have been burnt and this is why we are here”. Answers are very clear. In another place a male onlooker go past us on a truck commenting, “Then we can also start all this precession stuff ..huh ”. I try to make sense of it. Am I hearing properly? Is not this repulsive? I ignore it as the noise level is too high and the traffic continues from behind our back.
There is nothing new in the events of Porsha. All the literature that has grown over the years on the land problems of the adivasi people of the northwestern Bangladesh shows a pattern. It is the local powerful people with titles such as ‘Master’ or ‘Hazi’, and their mastan associates who commit such heinous atrocities. The loot, extort, set fire to houses and rape women to create an atmosphere of insecurity among the adivasi communities, so that adivasi families being less in number decide to flee the area. Often such atrocities are committed with the support from the law enforcing agencies. With connection with law enforcing agencies and local land administration offices, the local ‘influential’ people are often able to produce documents (which are of course forged) required to 'legalize' land claim. All these are evident in the Porsha case. The adivasi families, 73 in total who have been attacked on the 12th and 13th June 2009 are still in the area living under open sky. Only on 27th July 09 they have been able to submit a letter to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. It was handed in to the representative of Naogaon’s DC. The representative only managed to say “actions will be taken according to law.” But surly this is not enough. Is the Prime Minister watching?
I am talking to Suresh Murmu (35)whose house have also been attacked and demolished. He had been taking part in the long march for the past two days along with others. “Not all could come as some needs to stay at home” he said. What I gather however is that the home in question is almost non- existent. “All that exists now are the structures of the wall plus some polythene shed supplied from NGOs”, he tells me while diligently walking the roads. Some trucks and bus go past us dangerously close and somewhat disregarding the procession. But the marchers keep on walking, calm and composed. Suresh Murmu confirms that he had actually raised this house just about six months ago. He lived in a nearby place and has decided to settle as this is ‘adivasi’s land’. ‘This has been adivasi people’s land. There is a cremation place too’ he adds. I come to know also about the adivasi brothers who’ve actually owned the land, a total of 22 bigha. According to the news paper reports it is these brothers who have migrated to India and the new claimants, Nur Hossain and his mastan group are now making a claim that the brothers have sold this land to him and his family members. Before the attack took place, the new claimants were forcing one of the nephews of the brothers to help obtain permission for the land. This documentation is needed when a land transfer takes place between an adivasi and a non-adivasi according to law. I ask Suresh Murmu whether he is a relative of any of the brothers. He says, “No”. “Not all are relatives here, some are”, he added.
The Jatio Adivasi Parishad’s member/ leaders tell me that a total of 400 women and men from the Porsha village were taking part in the march. Later, more people joined. On our way to Naogaon’s DC office, curious people look at us. Some ask questions, “What happened? What’s wrong?” Participants in the march at times answer back, “Our houses have been burnt and this is why we are here”. Answers are very clear. In another place a male onlooker go past us on a truck commenting, “Then we can also start all this precession stuff ..huh ”. I try to make sense of it. Am I hearing properly? Is not this repulsive? I ignore it as the noise level is too high and the traffic continues from behind our back.
There is nothing new in the events of Porsha. All the literature that has grown over the years on the land problems of the adivasi people of the northwestern Bangladesh shows a pattern. It is the local powerful people with titles such as ‘Master’ or ‘Hazi’, and their mastan associates who commit such heinous atrocities. The loot, extort, set fire to houses and rape women to create an atmosphere of insecurity among the adivasi communities, so that adivasi families being less in number decide to flee the area. Often such atrocities are committed with the support from the law enforcing agencies. With connection with law enforcing agencies and local land administration offices, the local ‘influential’ people are often able to produce documents (which are of course forged) required to 'legalize' land claim. All these are evident in the Porsha case. The adivasi families, 73 in total who have been attacked on the 12th and 13th June 2009 are still in the area living under open sky. Only on 27th July 09 they have been able to submit a letter to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. It was handed in to the representative of Naogaon’s DC. The representative only managed to say “actions will be taken according to law.” But surly this is not enough. Is the Prime Minister watching?
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