- From Our Dhaka Contact

(No real names for the victims have been used in this article.)

A six members team consisting of Prof. Ajoy Roy, Shri Pankaj Bhattachaya, Advocate M. Rashid (legal advisor of Ain Salis Kendra), Mr. Mohammad Farukh (investigating officer of ASK), representing Implementation Committee for Annada Prasad Rehabilitation Project visited village Annada Prasad in the district of Bhola, one of the most severely affected areas of minority repression following last October general election. The team was accompanied by Mr. JK Baral (Director, Proshika), Mr. Dulal Chandra Dey (Senior Programme co-ordinator, Prishika), Mr. Md. Mostak Ul Alam (Assoc. Programme co-ordinator, Prishika). The purpose of the visit is to see and monitor the progress of rehabilitation work undertaken by the Annada Prasad Rehabilitation Project, mainly financed by USA based expatriates of Bangladesh under the banner 'Drishtipat - Cheye Dekho'. The local committee representing as many as many as seven non political socio-cultural organizations dedicated to human rights developed the schemme of implementation project.

The team arrived at Bhola on September 21 in the afternoon. The schedule of programme was as follows:

• 09/21/2002 (Evening): to see district commissioner and to apprise him of (a) problems faced by the committee in implementing the rehabilitation project and of (b) briefing progress of the work.
• 09/22/2002: Proceed to Annada Prasad early in the morning for monitoring the progress of the first series of construction of 10 houses and sorting out any problem(s) faced by the field workers.
• 09/23/2002: Proceed to Borhanuddin Proshika office where an orientation and motivation workshop has been arranged between the beneficiaries of the project and the implementing authority.
• Simultaneously a function has been arranged where formally another part of the rehabilitation project called 'Continuing Education' for the school & college going boys and girls who had to discontinue forcibly their studies because of terrible situation obtaining then. The purpose of this function is to give some financial support out of the 'Drishtipat Cheye Dekho' fund directly to the students from the committee members. This is done in order to generate confidence in the minds of affected guardians. In order to continue support a fund named "Drishtipat-Cheye Dekho" scholarship fund has been created for the affected boys and girls. It would be a sustainable project.
• 09/24/2002 (Morning): Leave Bhola on ward to Barisal.

The team was joined by local members of the project implementation committee namely Advocate AKM. Shajahan, Journalists Mobaswer Ullah Choudhury & Liton Bashar, Social worker Shariful Islam Bappi and local Proshika officers Mr. Abdul Karim Jamadar, Zonal co-ordinator at Bhola and Mr. AJM Mainul Islam, (housing technical worker) who is now supervising the constructional work at AP.

Photo: Common villagers and leaders of the locality(Hindu-Muslims) assembled in front of a newly constructed home.

Interview with DC Bhola

The team led by Prof Roy saw the DC at 8 p.m. on the same day who assured them of his all out cooperation. He also instructed the TNO (Thana Nirbahi Officer ) of Lalmohan Thana over phone to accompany the team next day to Annada Prashad, the project site. He also assured that the temporary 'police substation' would not be withdrawn. Professor Roy formally handed over a report of progress and drew his attention to some irritating local problems to which DC assured to take appropriate actions.

Trip to Annada Prasad, a remote village in south-east region of Bhola

The visiting team consisting of not less than 10 members left Bhola in two microbuses to Lalmohan on way to Lord Hardinge Union about 50 km from Bhola Sadar at about 9 a.m. There was light raining all the way as we move toward Lamohan upazila head quarters. On the way we picked up Thana Nirbahi officer (TNO) from his office at Lalmohan upazila head quarters and Mr. , Chairman (in charge) Lord Hardinge Union Parisad. TNO entertained us with tea and light refreshment. Prof Roy briefed TNO and Union Parisad Chairman about the situation obtaining at the time following general election in those remote areas, the background and aim of the rehabilitation project.

Photo: A newly constructed home 'Dristipat-Cheyedakho Ananda Dhara'

We reached Annada Prasad village at about 11-30 a.m. The team-members walked around freely the entire village, talked to the families of the beneficiaries, and saw for themselves the progress of construction of 10 houses. We saw smiling faces of the villagers, a sense confidence coming back, a feeling among the common Hindus who lost everything including ijjat of their dear ones that there are some people who courageously stood behind them during most critical hours and these people are still on their side & their number is increasing.

A few hours at Annada Prasad with villagers

We parked our microbuses at the premises of Gunamoni Bazar Junior High School. The head master Mr. Lalit Mohan Das received us with their colleagues including head moulavai and another teacher Mr. Narayan Chandra Das, who has been helping in the execution of the project at AP. Prof. Roy took the TNO and chairman in charge of the union to show a damaged school house. He appealed to the assembled local people to raise some fund for the reconstruction of the house. He sought the cooperation of the TNO in this respect. Professor Roy and Proshika director assured the school authority that with local people's co-operation and token support AP project will see that a new school house is rebuilt within a very short time.

The team then proceeded to the premises of Subal Das (popularly known as Subal Dokandarer Bari), another gentleman who willingly extended his helping hand in the implementation of AP project. The site is about half a furlong from G.M. Bazar. He not only gave land for three distressed families where three new houses have been raised, but assured for his continued support.

1. Amalesh & his wife

2. Girendra & his wife

3. Ganga ( a widow )

Story of Padma & her mother

It may be recalled that Amalesh's wife and his daughter, Padma aged 9-10 years were gang rapped by the miscreants on the dreadful night of 2nd October and the following morning. Amalesh himself, father of two children, is a Kshet Majur. The AP rehabilitation committee induced the family to stay on to which they agreed in spite of several threats they had to encounter. The AP committee is very much grateful to them for showing courage and endurance.

Padma now lives in distant but safer place as her life has been made miserable by the goondas against whom case of raping was lodged with Lalmohan PS.

The leaders of the locality assembled at the premises of Subal Dokandarer Bari and joined the visiting team. The TNO and the chairman union parisad addressed them seeking their cooperation and support in keeping a harmonious relation between different communities living in the area. The villagers were, as it seemed, impressed with work of AP rehabilitation project. 

[ this concludes Part 1A]

continue to Part 1B