United News of Bangladesh

Speakers from "Justice for Comrades," a platform of retired army officers, have called for the arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for various killings, including the killing of 57 army officers during the BDR mutiny, as well as cases of enforced disappearances that occurred under the previous government.Major (Retd) Shakil Newaz made this demand while reading a statement on behalf of the organization, during a press briefing held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital on Tuesday.The platform also called for the reinstatement of 1,000 armed forces personnel who were dismissed during the last government's tenure. Army Chief urges new officers to face challenges with courageHe also said that a full investigation into the killings of army officers during the 2009 BDR mutiny remains incomplete and the real perpetrators have yet to be brought to justice.Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, the former Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) filed false cases against some army officers and dismissed them from their job. They were sentenced to different terms in jail, he said.The statement further alleged that several senior officials, including Lieutenant Generals Mamun Khaled, Saif, Abedin and Mujib and Major Generals Ziaul Ahsan and Hamid were masterminds behind the “Aynaghar” incident. It also demanded to make them accountable. Army man killed over land dispute in SherpurMeanwhile, allegations of ‘enforced disappearance’ and killings have been brought against some top officials including former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed and former DB Chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, it said.The platform also demanded to arrest them and ensure justice.    

A Cumilla court on Monday convicted a man and sentenced him to death for killing a man in 2015. The condemned convict is identified as Azad Mia, 35, son of Bahadur Mia of Homna upazila. AL infighting leaves 1 dead , 10 injured in Cumilla Judge of the Cumilla Additional District and Session Judge Court-3,  Rozina Khan handed down the punishment. The court also acquitted two others—Salauddin, 28 and Nasir Uddin, 22---two siblings of the convict, as allegations brought against them could not be proved. Three crushed under bus wheels in Cumilla According to the prosecution, the convict beat Joj Mia up mercilessly, while he was sitting at the bus stand, over previous enmity on May 22, 2015. At one stage, he stabbed Joj Mia with a sharp weapon, leaving him dead. 16 Chhatra League men suspended for grieving Sayeedi's death on Facebook in Cumilla Anwar Ali, brother of Joj Mia, filed a case against three people with Homna Police Station. Police submitted chargesheet against them.

A U.N. report on Monday strongly criticized the Taliban for carrying out public executions, lashings and stonings since seizing power in Afghanistan, and called on the country's rulers to halt such practices. In the past six months alone, 274 men, 58 women and two boys were publicly flogged in Afghanistan, according to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA. “Corporal punishment is a violation of the Convention against Torture and must cease,” said Fiona Frazer, the agency's human rights chief. She also called for an immediate moratorium on executions. The Taliban foreign ministry said in response that Afghanistan’s laws are determined in accordance with Islamic rules and guidelines, and that an overwhelming majority of Afghans follow those rules. “In the event of a conflict between international human rights law and Islamic law, the government is obliged to follow the Islamic law,” the ministry said in a statement. The Taliban began carrying out such punishments shortly after coming to power almost two years ago, despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during their previous stint in power in the 1990s. At the same time, they have gradually tightened restrictions on women, barring them from public spaces, such as parks and gyms, in line with their interpretation of Islamic law. The restrictions have triggered an international uproar, increasing the country’s isolation at a time when its economy has collapsed — and worsening a humanitarian crisis. Monday's report on corporal punishment documents Taliban practices both before and after their return to power in August 2021, when they seized the capital of Kabul as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew after two decades of war. The first public flogging following the Taliban takeover was reported in October 2021 in the northern Kapisa province, the report said. In that case, a woman and man convicted of adultery were publicly lashed 100 times each in the presence of religious scholars and local Taliban authorities, it said. In December 2022, Taliban authorities executed an Afghan convicted of murder, the first public execution since they took power the report said. The execution, carried out with an assault rifle by the victim’s father, took place in the western Farah province before hundreds of spectators and top Taliban officials. Zabihullah Mujahid, the top government spokesman, said the decision to carry out the punishment was “made very carefully," following approval by three of the country’s highest courts and the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada. There has been a significant increase in the number and regularity of judicial corporal punishment since November when Mujahid repeated comments by the supreme leader about judges and their use of Islamic law in a tweet, the report said. Since that tweet, UNAMA documented at least 43 instances of public lashings involving 274 men, 58 women and two boys. A majority of punishments were related to convictions of adultery and “running away from home," the report said. Other purported offenses included theft, homosexuality, consuming alcohol, fraud and drug trafficking. In a video message, Abdul Malik Haqqani, the Taliban’s appointed deputy chief justice, said last week that the Taliban’s Supreme Court has issued 175 so-called retribution verdicts since taking power, including 79 floggings and 37 stonings. Such verdicts establish the right of a purported victim, or relative of a victim of a crime to punish or forgive the perpetrator. Haqqani said the Taliban leadership is committed to carrying out such sentences. After their initial overthrow in the U.S. invasion of 2001, the Taliban continued to carry out corporal punishment and executions in areas under their control while waging an insurgency against the U.S.-backed former Afghan government, the report said. UNAMA documented at least 182 instances when the Taliban carried out their own sentences during the height of their insurgency between 2010 and August 2021, resulting in 213 deaths and 64 injuries. Many Muslim-majority countries draw on Islamic law, but the Taliban interpretation is an outlier. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called a Taliban ban on women working an unacceptable violation of Afghan human rights. On April 5, Afghanistan's Taliban rulers informed the United Nations that Afghan women employed with the U.N. mission could no longer report for work. Aid agencies have warned that the ban on women working will impact their ability to deliver urgent humanitarian help in Afghanistan. The Taliban previously banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade and women from most public life and work. In December, they banned Afghan women from working at local and non-governmental groups — a measure that at the time did not extend to U.N. offices. Under the first Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001, public corporal punishment and executions were carried out by officials against individuals convicted of crimes, often in large venues such as sports stadiums and at urban intersections.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said that those who were involved in the killings of hundreds of Bangladesh Air Force members through illegal court martial in 1977 are getting punishment for their crimes. Punishment is also being meted out to the perpetrators of arson violence and terrorism carried out in the name of movement launched by BNP and Jamaat during 2013-15, she said. “Those who were involved in injustice got punishment, getting punishment and will get punishment,” she said at an event at her official residence Ganobhavan. The prime minister was talking to the family members of Bangladesh Air Force personnel who had been sentenced to death through illegal court martial in 1977 during the regime of then military ruler General Ziaur Rahman. Also Read: 2002 attack on Hasina's motorcade: 4 get life imprisonment, 44 others 7 years’ jail Victims and relatives of arson terrorism by BNP-Jamaat nexus in 2013, 2014 and 2015 were also present there. Hasina said that she is empathetic to the family members of the victims as she and her younger sister lost father, mother, brothers, sister-in-laws and other family members in a day on August 15 in 1975 when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated. She said Bangabandhu endured life-long sufferings for Bangladesh and its people. “My only aim is to ensure that people of this country remain in good shape,” she said. She regretted that arson terrorism and fire incidents at market places are taking place causing immense miseries to the innocent people at a time the country is moving towards economic prosperity. “Those who are doing this are incurring hatred of the whole nation. I think that Allah will also not tolerate this,” she said. She said that BNP-Jamaat’s activities had been as barbaric as was done by Pakistani military.  “Ziaur Rahman used to write the verdict of capital punishment while smiling,” she said. She said that after that Zia’s wife and then their sons resorted to arson terrorism as they do not want any good for the country and its people. She mentioned that she can understand the pain of the family members and relatives of the victims. “I am always beside you, I share your pain,” she said. Nurunnahar Begum, wife of victim Sargent Delwar Hossain, and Maksuda Parvin, daughter of Sargent Morshedul Alam, also spoke at the programme. A heart-rending situation prevailed while the relatives spoke. A visibly moved PM consoled them with motherly affection. Victim of arson terrorism Sub Inspector Moqbul Hossain and Mohammad Salauddin Bhuiyan expressed their feelings in the programme. Two separate documentaries on these subjects were also screened at the programme. The prime minister presented Eid gifts to the victims and relatives.    

Twenty-seven people were lashed in public on Thursday in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as punishment for alleged adultery, theft, drug offenses and other crimes, according to a court official. Afghanistan’s new authorities have implemented hard-line policies since they took over the country in August 2021 that have underlined their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia. The country’s Supreme Court issued the final rulings after appeals. In a statement, the court said the lashings took place in the northern province of Parwan, with 18 men and nine women punished in all. Abdul Rahim Rashid, an official with the court, said the men and women were each lashed between 25 to 39 times. An unspecified number of those punished also received two-year prison terms in Charakar, the provincial capital, he added. The lashings were carried out before a “public gathering of locals and officials,” Rashid added. Read: Rights group: Taliban unlawfully killed 13 ethnic Hazaras Provincial officials and local residents attended the public punishments, during which officials spoke about the importance of Sharia law, added the court statement. Thursday’s lashings come a day after the Taliban authorities executed an Afghan convicted of killing another man, the first public execution since the former insurgents returned to power last year. The execution, carried out with an assault rifle by the victim’s father, took place in western Farah province before hundreds of spectators and many top Taliban officials, according to Zabihullah Mujahid, the top government spokesman. Some officials came from the capital Kabul. The execution was met with international criticism. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “the death penalty cannot be reconciled with full respect for the right to life,” spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay said. In comments late Wednesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. condemned the public execution. Price said the Taliban’s future relationship with Washington depended “largely on their actions when it comes to human rights.” No foreign state has officially recognized the Taliban government that took over as U.S. and NATO troops withdrew last year. The Taliban formerly ruled Afghanistan before the U.S. invasion of 2001. On Thursday, spokesman Mujahid rejected international criticisms of the Taliban government. “Unfortunately, a number of countries and institutions still do not have a proper knowledge and understanding of Afghanistan,” he said. Read: Now silent under Taliban, a Kabul cinema awaits its fate Mujahid pointed out that capital punishment was practiced in many other countries including the United States. A separate court statement said that earlier this week, three men convicted of theft were lashed in public in the eastern province of Paktika. During the previous Taliban rule of Afghanistan in the late 1990s, the group carried out public executions, floggings and stonings. After they overran Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban initially promised to allow for women’s and minority rights. Instead, they have restricted rights and freedoms, including imposing a ban on girl’s education beyond the sixth grade. The former insurgents have struggled in their transition from warfare to governing amid an economic downturn and the international community’s withdrawal of aid.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked all not to magnify any incident that goes against any religion, rather look at the punitive measures that have been taken by the government. “Do not magnify any incident that takes place in any area (of the country), rather I will request you to look at the punitive measures of the government against that incident,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a greetings exchange programme with the Hindu religious people of the country on the occasion of Durga Puja. The programme was held at the premises of Dhakeshwari National Temple while the Prime Minister joined the programme virtually from her official residence--Ganabhaban. Sheikh Hasina also sought cooperation from all including the Hindus to maintain communal harmony in the country. “I will seek your cooperation in this regard and hope that you will cooperate,” she said. Read: Be vocal against anti-state propaganda: PM She said that the government always tries to uphold the non-communal spirit or secular character of the country and step forward towards prosperity maintaining that. The Prime Minister again categorically warned that no one will be allowed to undermine anyone’s religious sentiment. “No one will be allowed to say anything (derogatory) hitting others’ religious sentiment. This is applicable for any religion,” she said. She said that religion is about one’s belief. “It is one’s belief on Allah or the Creator, we have to go with that belief.” In this connection, she said that Islam is a very open and generous religion, and there are directives in Islam to show respect to all other religions. She mentioned about Surah Kafirun where it is stated that every person will perform their respective religious rituals and people from all religions will enjoy equal rights. “And we believe that from our heart.” Read: Convey misrule, brutality under BNP regimes: PM tells expat Bangladeshis

During our childhood, many of us were physically punished at home or school by parents or teachers due to various reasons. Most experts view physical punishment as cruel and damaging to children. In many developed countries, physical punishment is prohibited. Let’s find out the long-term consequences of physically punishing children. Why do parents choose to physically punish their children? Usually, parents, and teachers tend to physically punish children due to their unsatisfactory performance in education, unruly behaviour, disrespect, mischievous attitude or other similar reasons. In many cases, the parents try different methods to discipline their child until all that is left is the use of physical punishment. Besides, many guardians impose physical punishments on their children to make them submissive. Some teachers also practice corporal punishment in schools to punish the students. They believe that mere words cannot control the naughty kids. In the past, a large majority of folks had this belief. In many countries and cultures, this practice continues. Read Child Drowning Prevention: Water safety tips to save your kid from drowning Potential consequences of physical punishment Children are fond of imitating the people they admire and love. They believe it’s acceptable for them to behave as they choose to do. Family is the ideal learning camp to teach children to manage conflict. Research shows that children from spanking families tend to resort to aggressive tactics to resolve conflicts once they grow up. Children learn that when they encounter a problem, they can solve it with a quick swipe. If you control a child’s behaviour through spanking, they will likely keep this behaviour in relationships with their peers, siblings, and, eventually, parents and spouses. Read School Fire Hazard Safety: Essential preventive measures to minimise risk Damage self-image of children Beyond physical injury, it’s an emotional pain with devastating consequences. Your child is likely to create a negative self-image as being a jerk and may be prone to having no self-respect. He or she might think that s/he is a ‘bad person’ or ‘failed person’ and such thinking may last for a long time. Lack of self-respect will damage their self-confidence eventually. In future the child may suffer from lack of courage while taking decisions in family matters, study, or career. Devaluation of parent or mentor When a child continues to be undisciplined or mischievous, some parents and teachers think that physical punishment is the only solution. Thus, the parents and teachers fail to teach a child how to control behaviour. Read Teaching Young Kids Household Chores: 10 Easy Steps A child naturally respects their parents, and teachers. Physical punishment devalues the relationship between parents and children. It creates a distance between you and your children. This can be particularly troubling in situations at home where parent-child relationships are already in a state of tension, like parents with no children and a blended family. The parents are advised not to spank when angry. When the parent has calmed down, he or she can find an appropriate correction method. Physically punishing children does not work Smacking your children does not bring any advantages regarding development in any way! When a child is physically punished, they may cry for some hours or fear you for some days. Then, they may return to their old attitude and make the same mistake again. No benefit can be derived from applying physical punishments on a child, if they don’t realise their own mistakes. Read Learning Disabilities in Children: Types, symptoms, ways to help Hitting promotes anger and shame It is more common for children to resist corporal punishment than other methods of discipline. Children don't think as adults do. However, they have an inherent sense of fairness even though their standards aren't like those of adults. This may hinder punishment from being as effective as you expected it to and thus it could raise anger in children. Sometimes, the fear of unfairness can escalate to feelings of shame. When the child becomes an adult, he or she can bear those hidden pain, shame and anger in the heart. This may encourage the child to be disrespectful to parents. Children with weight problems Dr. Dhananjay Gambhire, a consultant psychiatrist and sexologist, agrees that abuse could cause obesity in later life. Dr. Gambhire says: "Obesity due to eating too much and living a sedentary lifestyle are indicators of poor reactions, and both are utilised as escape strategies for situations that don't suit you… Both of them signify low self-confidence and depression, which causes low self-esteem. The weight gain is further aggravated, and the person becomes more withdrawn.” Read Eating Disorders in Children, Adolescents, Adults: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Ways to Help Therefore, negative childhood experiences like corporal punishment may result in to long-term effects like despair, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Hitting leads to abuse The act of punishment tends to escalate day by day. Initially, the physical punishment may start from a slap. If the child doesn’t care, the parent or teacher may increase the level of punishment. What happens next? If the child continues the same unruly behaviour, the punishment continues. With the course of time, the parents or teachers start punishing children heavily. In the end, punishment can lead to child abuse. Read Motivating Kids to Study, Do Homework, Get Good Grades: Know Secret Ways Alternative ways to discipline children Are you wondering whether there is any alternative to physical punishment when disciplining children? Here are some alternatives: Disapproval Your child is dependent on your approval. The most efficient and simple method to change a child's behaviour is to tell them that you do not approve of the behaviour. Be clear about your reasons and provide reasons. If your child notices your displeasure or anger, they will try to acknowledge the mistakes. Disapproval can be effective when clarified and clearly stated once. Don't make it a point to hold your disapproval as a grudge. Your displeasure must be passionate and with conviction but not with rage. Do not be timid or bossy. Read Common Sleep Problems in Children: Causes, Symptoms, Ways to Help Discussion Children sometimes require help in understanding the sequence of events and understanding the reasons for them. Therefore, if something goes wrong, the first and most effective response is to get together and discuss it. In most cases, the most effective method is to communicate with the child openly. Make sure to draw out the possible natural consequences that could result due to the child’s negative behaviour that was causing the problem. Ignoring If you encounter mildly frustrating misbehaviour in your child, the best solution is to ignore the issue. A. Make a conscious decision not to take it seriously. B. Listen in silence as you actively ignore it. Certainly, never overlook any risk or danger for your child. As parents, you must know what to avoid and when to avoid it. Read Breastfed Infant’s Slow Weight Gain: Common symptoms, reasons, solutions Separation and Replacement Do you see kids fighting over something? Separate children from objects when the object is linked to the child's behaviour. The separation and replacement can be performed with joy. If you have to remove children from objects, ensure that you substitute the activity with something productive. Warnings When your children show agitation or disrespect, the first step you can take is to warn them. In many instances, it is the beginning and end of the misbehaviour! Warnings aren't the equivalent of threats. Warnings place the child on alert that their behaviour has to change immediately. You can be successful with warnings if your child trusts that you are going to follow through. Thus, the parents can stay calm and observe the child’s attitude. This ensures the child's safety as well. Read Excessive Crying in Infants: Possible Reasons, Tips of Soothing Bottom Line Usually, parents and teachers choose to punish the undisciplined children physically, because they aren't aware of alternatives and jump straight into the punishment mode. The parents or teachers lose their respect when they fail to apply pre-planned and tested strategies for behaviour control and opt for corporal punishment like spanking. No evidence shows that physical punishment is beneficial to children. So far, we have discussed the long-term negative consequences of corporal punishment on children. Furthermore, we have focused on the alternative ways of disciplining children. So, we should focus on gaining knowledge and using these possibilities. Read How to comfortably travel with babies

People found parking their vehicles on the road haphazardly, should be punished instantly, said LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam on Monday. It is quite common in the city that many shops were set up occupying roads and vehicles were seen parked haphazardly which is the main reason behind traffic congestion, he said. Tajul revealed this information while speaking at a dialogue on the title of ‘Unbearable tailback: What’s the solution?’ organized by Dhaka Utility Reporter’s Association (DURA) at Dhaka Reporters Unity. The minister also urged the law enforcement agencies to go tough on it. Also read: DU struggles to manage parking problems on the campus Traffic congestion is common in many countries and many of these have managed to reduce it but it is difficult for us, he said adding “We have to identify the problem and search for a solution. Though we are not sitting idle, we are working on it.” He also urged the authorities concerned to take steps to encourage people to use public transport as the number of private vehicles is increasing gradually. “It is not possible for one organisation to resolve the traffic jam problems alone and if we work together it can be possible to reach its desired goal. The participation of common people is needed in this regard,” said Tajul. It is needed to regulate the population in Dhaka city, he also said. The government is approving a Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and through it Dhaka will be expanded, he added. Also read: No respite from illegal parking in city Replying to a question on whether any steps would be taken to hand over the traffic management to two city corporations, LGRD minister said “The two city mayors are interested in working more and we want to see whether they have the capacity to manage the traffic system.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said public servants will face tough punishment if anyone indulges in corruption. “As we are providing various facilities, we will not tolerate any corruption,” she said. The prime minister said this while speaking at a meeting with all secretaries of the public service. Held at the NEC auditorium, the prime minister joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban. She said the government wants to build a skilled, pro-service oriented and accountable administration which will accelerate the development of the country. READ: Maintain Bangladesh's current development pace: PM to secretaries “That will be much more effective as we want to establish good governance in the country,” she said. Terming corruption a disease, Hasina laid  emphasis  on getting rid of the menace. “You have to take stern action against it, whenever you see anyone indulging in corruption take immediate steps. There must be a reward for any good job, but punishment must be given for any involvement in corruption,” she said. Talking about the coronavirus vaccines, the prime minister said the government has taken measurers  to produce those in the country. “Besides, we will procure whatever the amount of vaccines  we need, we have taken the steps,” she said. Hasina also emphasised theneed for reopening of the educational institutions and asked authorities concerned to take quick move regarding this. “Not only universities, but also schools have to be reopened; this is the most important matter now, kids are suffering from mental pain staying at homes (for a long time), we have to give attention to this issue,” she said. She asked secretaries to maintain the current pace of development in the country. “We have to continue our activities so that Bangladesh could maintain its forward march in the future like it is doing now,” she said. Hasina said the government has laid the foundation to take the country forward  in the days to come. Referring to the perspective plan and delta plan, "We have to make much  progress in the future, we have taken that plan." She asked the secretaries to make sure that all plans are implemented for the country’s development keeping the perspective plan and delta plan in mind. READ: PM says her main goal is to fulfill Bangabandhu’s dream of building Sonar Bangla Hasina said the prime task of the government is to provide a better life to people at the grassroots. “People could get free from poverty, get a developed life, get a chance to avail of all the basic rights, including food, clothes, shelter, medicare and education,” she said. Hasina asked all to work sincerely so that the Independence that came at the cost of blood of millions must not fail. “We will take Bangladesh forward as a developed and prosperous country as we have we already attained the recognition as a developing country,” she said. She thanked the secretaries for their sincerity and cooperation in working for the country and its people. “What we need most is the mentality to work for the development of the country and change the fate of its people. You have that mentality and we got (that from you), as a result we have been  able to advance the country,” Hasina  said. She asked the secretaries to take care of the development projects that the government has taken so that the country could maintain the economic development. 

Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad, an organization of students from minority backgrounds,  have protested the rape of a woman from the Hajong community in Sunamganj on August 14 and also demanded exemplary punishment of the rapist. On Tuesday morning, the leaders and activist of Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad held this protest procession in front of the National Museum in the capital and also placed a five-point charter of demand. The five points are: Appropriate compensation has to be paid to the five Garo families affected in Sreebardi upazila of Sherpur district and Range officers and beat officers, especially those involved in such heinous acts must be provide exemplary punished; ensure rights of traditional land of ethnic minorities’ people; the conspiracy of grabbing the land of ethnic minority group of Doluchhora in Moulvibazar, Garo and Khasia community have to stop immediately ; a separate land commission for the plain land’s ethnic minority communities READ: Chamber judge stays bail to accused in ULAB student rape, murder Organizing Secretary Badol Hajong conducted the program while its general secretary Alik Mree presided over the program. Besides, expressing solidarity with the Parishad, Dhaka University's Sociology Department Professor Khairul Chowdhury Rupam and DU Anthropology Department associate professor Zobaida Nasrin Kona attended and also spoke at the program. Professor Khairul Chowdhury said, ‘"The Incidents of torture and oppression against indigenous women are happening repeatedly in the country. And we are protesting only. I think it is time to form an indigenous human rights commission to solve their problems. And we also demand formation of a land commission for them." Anthropology Department Associate Professor Zobaida Nasreen said, "Patriarchal society and culture of injustice are the main reasons behind such incidents in Bangladesh. It is not possible to tackle such crimes only through protests. To prevent this klinds of incident, everyone in society should be united and fight against rape." Speaking on the procession Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad General Secretary Alik Mree said that five Adivasi families have lost crops worth several lakhs taka due to deforestation in the name of social forestry at Sreebardi upazila in Sherpur. There are more than 50 ethnic minorities’ families in fear of eviction. Not only in the case of Sherpur, but also in Sylhet, Tangail and Chittagong Hill Tracts of the country, the forest department is working to evict the ethnic minorities. He said that the conspiracy of grabbing the lands of ethnic minority group have to stop immediately and also demanded exemplary punishment for raping a Hajong woman in Tahirpur. READ: Grapes are Sour: Portraying the difficult experiences of women in our society Bangladesh Adibasi Juba Forum President Ananta Bikash Dhamai, General Secretary of Hajong Students' Organization Ashish Hajong and among others also spoke at the rally.