Langadu arson attack victims still homeless

The Langadu arson attack victims are still living under the open sky, four months after their homes were torched by Bengali settlers. At least 200 houses were burnt to the ground in three neighbourhoods of the ethnic minority Chakma people at Langadu in Rangamati on June 2, following the death of a Juba League leader in Khagrachhari. The government promised to build new  homes for the victims. However, no such promise was kept. Some of the families are living in two schools of Sadar upazila in Rangamati while others made shanties for themselves in the Tintila, Manikjor, Chhara and Pashchim Baittapara areas of the district. Suchitra Chakma, an assistant teacher of Tintila Primary School, took shelter in a hostel building being built at Langadu Girls’ School. “We are living a miserable life after losing our home,” she said. “We cannot afford to build a new home or even rent a flat as we have no money in our hands. We heard the government will build our home, but when will that happen?” Langadu upazila Janasanghati Samiti General Secretary Moni Sangkar Chakma said he did not know when the government will implement its promise to build homes for the arson victims. “The winter has already come but the victims remained homeless. The UNO called me by phone on Wednesday and asked me to meet him. Let us see what he says,” he said. Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Manjarul Mannan said: “It is taking time because we are keeping the financial matters transparent and trying to ensure the highest quality in the work.” Langadu Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mosaddek Mehedi Imam said all progress on the construction had stopped suddenly after the upazila LGED officer was transferred to a different area. l   The article was first published on banglatribune.com