Protesters urge govt to alter road map to save minority land

The conference was organised at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city, on Thursday, to protest the eviction of minorities from their land in Potia, Chittagong . Several demands were placed at the conference, including calls to save temples from government land acquisition as well as for protection of a Muslim graveyard and minority homes by changing both district and local maps. Victims said that if the government changed as little as 250 to 300 yards from the map of 2008 and 2009, then 40 homes, the Muslim graveyard and Mohanandha ShebhaSram will be saved. The conference was attended by Sultana Kamal, Khushi Kabir, Kamal Lohani, Sara Hossain, Prof Abul Barkat and other renowned personalities. Sultana Kamal said: “We don’t know why the government wants to make roads on a place where we have religious infrastructure. Previously the local members of parliament gave instructions to change the plans.” Protesting minority attacks, Kamal Lohani said: “We fought against Pakistan for our rights, but if we need to fight our own, independent Bangladesh as well, then where will we go to find the spirit of Independence? We don’t know why the face of the country has still not changed.”