Indigenous Santal community of Gaibandha yesterday participated in a human chain at the district city defying obstruction allegedly made by local goons loyal to a ruling party lawmaker.
The Santals who participated in the protest programme said they were coming by buses from all over the district to stage a human chain organised protesting the heinous November 6 attack on the community.
“At Kaligonj area under Gobindaganj upazila, a group of goons loyal to MP Azad blocked the road and forced us to get off the bus and ordered to go back to home,” they alleged.
They were also threatened with physical violence if they did not refrain from joining the human chain.
Witnesses said despite the threats, many desperate Santals continued their journey to the district town riding on motorcycles and on foot to join the human chain.
Contacted, Gobindaganj thana Officer-in-Charge Subrata Kumar told the Dhaka Tribune: “I have not heard any such complaint.”
MP Abul Kalam Azad said: “I am not at all informed about the matter. I did not even know that Santals are holding any protest programme today (Monday).”
A number of spokespersons representing numerous minority rights groups delivered passionate speeches at the human chain programme, demanding arrest of the perpetrators of the attack including MP Azad, Rangpur Sugar Mill Managing Director Md Abdul Awal, Gobindaganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdul Hannan and some more government for instigating the attack on Santals.Another legal notice served to DCMeanwhile, another legal notice was served to the deputy commissioner of Gaibandha, asking him to explain his inaction during the attacks on Santals at Sahebganj-Bagda farm area of Gobindaganj in the district.
Supreme Court lawyer Aynun Nahar Siddiqua sent the notice by post yesterday and asked the DC to respond within November 30, otherwise legal steps would be taken against him.
Lawyer Nahar told the Dhaka Tribune: “In the notice the DC has been asked to state what measures he had taken to protect the lives and belongings of the Santals when they came under attacks, as he was responsible to ensure safety of all inhabitants of the district.”
Earlier, Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua also sent a legal notice to nine people, including the home and industries secretaries, asking them to explain under what authorities the eviction drive at Gobindaganj was conducted and what steps have been taken against those involved in attacking villagers, torching houses and looting.
The notice, which was sent on behalf of two Santal victims, asks the respondents to answer in writing within 24 hours.
Three Santals were killed and more than 30 people were injured in the clashes while more than 1,000 Santal families were evicted from their claimed land.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
