Eviction notice to Khasis in Bangladesh, KHM seeks Modi's intervention

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, June 16: The Khun Hynniewtrep tiol Awakening Movement (KHM), submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, rendra Modi and the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma seeking their intervention on the eviction notice issued by a district administration in Bangladesh to over 700 Khasi people.

Condemning the quit notice, Pyndapborthiaw Saibon, president, KHM, central body in the memorandum stated, “The Dhaka district administration has issued an eviction notice to over 700 families belonging to indigenous Khasi tribe who have been living in their ancestral land at har Punji of Srimangal Upazila in Moulvibazar for over 75 Years.”

“The District Administration has directed them to leave har Punji Village within June 12, 2016, with a threat to evict forcefully if the people refuse to leave. All these Khasi people are in great fear and are passing each moment with distress and worries of eviction following the notice,” he stated.

Saibon added that the Indo-Bangla relationship received a boost after his visit to Bangladesh and expectations were high to settle the 41 years old boundary dispute between two countries though the land boundary agreement.

Terming the eviction notice to the Khasi people residing in Bangladesh as inhumane, said, “For safety and security of the Khasi people it is necessary to negotiate for the transfer of these land occupied by the Khasi people to India, through the Land Boundary Agreement. We request you for your kind and persol intervention on the matter so that these Khasi people can again live in peace and without fear in their ancestral land.” Saibon further added that the people have been paying taxes for over 75 year while he claimed that State Government maintained silence on the issue, leaving the Khasi people helpless.