Eight non-government organisations in a joint statement on Sunday expressed concern over the cutting down of betel plants of the ethnic minority people at Khasia Punji in Kulaura upazila of Moulvibazar on August 24 and a sudden attack on Garo and Khasia communities on Friday.
They demanded that those who were responsible for the attacks on lives and livelihood of the ethnic minorities must be arrested and the security of the minorities must be ensured.
The rights bodies also demanded justice and compensations for the affected families, according to a release from Bangladesh Adibashi Forum.
Rights organisations, including Sammilita Samajik Andolan, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Association for Land Reform and Development and Nagorik Udyog, Bangladesh Adibashi Forum and Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan, issued the joint statement.
Alleging that some vested quarters were trying to grab the land in the name of social forestry, they demanded steps to check the incidents of human rights violations there.
The incidents of rights violations recur as miscreants are not arrested and brought to justice, said the statement.
On August 24, miscreants cut 2,800 betel plants on 25 acres of land at Khasia Punji in Moulvibazar, it mentioned.
Beluapunji headman Henri Talang filed a complaint at Kulaura police station accusing eight persons by name and 30 to 40 unnamed others in this connection.
