Longadu attack: Victims in hardship

Over a year into the arson attack, the indigenous families in Rangamati's Longadu are yet to get houses. They are still living at small huts beside their burnt houses near a jungle amid great hardship.

Construction of 176 houses is going on slowly. The work order for construction was given on May 5 and the contractor was asked to complete the construction work within 120 days but the houses are yet to be built.

On May 30, Diponkor Talukder, president of Rangamati district Awami League (AL), laid foundation stone of Asrayan Project-2 to build houses for 176 families.  But the victims are very disappointed that construction of the houses has not been completed.

During a recent visit to the affected villages--Tintila Para, Manikjowr Chara and Battye Para--, this correspondent found that many victims are still living in their wood and bamboo houses.

Suro Lal Chakma, 40, of Manikjowr Chhara village said his family members took shelter in the nearby jungle after the arson attack. The government started building new houses for them in May this year but they are yet to be completed.

Sashi Ranjan Chakma, 35, of the village said the houses are being built with low quality bricks and cement. The winter season is knocking at the door and the administration should finish building the houses before the winter season considering the sufferings of the victims.

Muhammad Jahangir Kamal, contractor of the project, said due to rainy season and shortage of construction materials, they could not continue their construction work smoothly.

He further said building of the houses will be completed before December.

Longadu Upazila Nirbahi Officer Prabir Kumar Roy said construction work of 176 houses is underway. He hopes that the construction work will be completed soon.

On June 1 last year, the body of local Jubo League leader Nurul Islam Nayan was found four miles away from Khagrachhari Sadar on Dighinalana-Khagrachhari road.

The next day, Bangalees, carrying the body, brought out a procession from Battya Para. Later, some rowdy men vandalised and set fire to over 200 homes in three villages of Longadu, alleging that Nayan was murdered by some indigenous men there.