Joy of Biju elusive for victims

Biju, the main social festival of the Chakma people in Chittagong Hill Tracts, will bring no cheers for the indigenous community in Longudu under the district this year as 213 families who became victims of a massive arson attack 10 months ago, are yet to be rehabilitated.

The attack on June 2 last year, following the recovery of the body of Longudu Jubo League leader Nurul Islam Nayan in Khagrachhari Sadar upazila the day before, left houses of 213 indigenous families of three villages destroyed.

Visiting the affected areas of Tintila Para, Manikjowr Chara and Battye Para village on Saturday, this correspondent saw that most of the families are living in temporally huts made with bamboo, wood and burnt iron sheets and tents.

Many affected families are still staying on the roof of Manikjowr Chara Government Primary School while some are sheltered in the nearby Buddhist monastery.

“Biju is the main festival of our culture but this year we are not in a position to celebrate it,” said Doyal Sagor Chakma, 50, from Manikjor Chhara village.

Bhubonika Chakma, 35, an inhabitant of Tintila village, said they are passing a hard time as a storm destroyed their makeshift hut last week.

“Earlier government officials gave assurance of building new homes for us but to no result yet,” she said.

Chandra Khisa, 45, of Tintila village said the administration gives 30 kg of rice for the each of the affected families per month but it is too scanty.

Longudu Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mosaddek Mehdi Imam said, “December 28 last year was the date for submission of tender for building houses for Longudu victims but no contractor participated in the tender. April 16 has been fixed as the date for submitting new tender.”