Policy on original inhabitants’ land rights mooted

Speakers at a programme Monday stressed finding ways of reconciling interests of stakeholders to solve the longstanding problem involving the ethnic minorities, settlers and the forest department in the Modhupur area.
They also suggested formulation of a national policy and formulation of a commission to ensure land rights of the original inhabitants by preserving the forest in the national interest.
"We need an effective high level commission to find ways of reconciling interest of various stakeholders. Without coordination of mutual interest the Sal forest at Modhupur cannot be saved," Professor Wahid Uddin Mahmud said.
He, however, warned that the policy might not be effective due to lack of good governance. That's why it is necessary to enact an act in this regard to make the policy effective, he added.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the roundtable on 'Modhupur Sal Forest: Its Demise, Demographic Changes and Customary Land Rights' at the forest department office in the city.
The Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) and the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) jointly organised the discussion.
PPRC executive chairman Hossain Zillur Rahman chaired the programme.
Professor Wahid Uddin said that the interest of the country as a whole depends on the preservation of the forest resources. That has to be determined first. On the other hand, the interest of the traditional inhabitants there, even though they lack legal land rights, should also be recognised.
"Most of all, it is the illegal activities of the politically and economically influential people who pose a threat to the legitimate interest of the original inhabitants," the noted economist said.
He observed that the complex land rights issues cannot be solved by the deputy commissioners. If the problem continues like this, the forest department will not be able to do anything.
There should be an act on the policy of coexistence of the ethnic people and the forest department, said Professor Mahmud, adding: Otherwise, the interest of the vested groups will be served only.
Hossain Zillur Rahman said it is necessary to understand the types of interests in Modhupur, although those are conflicting. There are three types of interests: to conserve forest there, agriculture and protection of human rights and existence of the ethnic people and Bengali settlers who have been living there for a long period.
He suggested taking no unplanned project in Modhupur. Besides, the perception gap needs to be minimised to solve the problems.
There is a perception gap in two areas in Modhupur which need proper understanding and explanation for solving problems there. One is the clear concept on customary land rights and another is the social forestry, said the noted economist.
Mr Rahman also suggested that the land right problem of the ethnic people be solved without any deeds. The related sustainable development goal (SDG) states that no one should be left behind.
Philip Gain of SEHD presented a report on the socio-economic condition of the inhabitants of Modhupur Sal Forest.
There were forest-dependent inhabitants and forest department representatives at the programme. They stated various conflicting speeches on the problems prevailing between the inhabitants of Modhupur and the forest department.
The Garo leaders criticised the forest department and other illegal settlers for their role in destruction of forest, implicating the ethnic people in false cases and destroying the natural forest in the name of social forestry.
On the other hand, the forest department officials blamed the ethnic people for destroying the forest.

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