Longadu Attack: Victims left in the lurch for a year

Indigenous families, who became homeless in last years' arson attack in Longadu upazila, are yet to be rehabilitated.

The foundation stone of the Asrayon Project-2, which would build 176 houses for the families, was laid on Wednesday, almost a year after the attack.

Meanwhile, many of the families of three villages continue to live in rickety makeshift huts.

On June 2 last year, over 200 homes and shops owned by indigenous people were vandalised, looted and burnt while one indigenous woman was reportedly burnt to death as Bangalee settlers unleashed a series of arson attack on Chakma community at Tintila, Manikjhor and Baittapara villages in Rangamati's Longadu.

According to upazila administration, about Tk 11.01 crore was given from the prime minister's Asrayon Project-2 to build the houses. Each of the homes was supposed to cost over Tk 6.25 lakh.

As the foundation stone was ceremonially laid at Tintila village on Wednesday, some of the families, who lost everything in the attack, and has been living on the roof of Manikjowr Chara Government Primary School, told this correspondent that they were utterly frustrated.

In Tintila Para, Manikjowr Chara and Battye Para villages, people are still living in makeshift shelters made of bamboo, wood and iron sheets salvaged from their burnt houses.

“The government is insincere about rehabilitating. Why else would they take a year just to start building the houses? The administration, soon after the attack, had assured the victims of building new homes at the earliest possible time. But nothing happened,” Bimal Jyoti Chakma, 40, a resident of Manikjowr village, who now lives in a small hut beside his burnt home, told this correspondent.

As the arson attacks took place last year, he took shelter in a forest near his village, he reminisced.

Rika Chakma, a woman of Tintila village, said she had been living under the open sky after her small hut was destroyed by a storm last week.

“We have been hearing stories about new houses for a year. But we keep suffering in the open” she said.

Some of the residents said they were intimidated by those who attacked the villages last year.

Shantimoy Chakma, village head of Batte Para, said, “Some of the criminals who were involved with the attack are roaming freely and sometimes even threatening villagers.”

Saiful Islam, contractor of the project, said the delay was due to shortage of construction materials. The work will begin in full-swing soon, he added.

Ranjan Kumar Samonto, officer-in-charge of Longadu Police Station said a case was filed against 29 people after the attacks. Some of the accused had taken bail from the High Court.

The investigation was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department in Chittagong, he added.