Santal people in Gaibandha’s Gobindaganj staged a human chain on Saturday demanding the return of their forefathers' land and justice of killing three Santal men.
They also demanded the arrest of the attackers on Santals.
After holding the human chain, hundreds of indigenous people brought out a demonstration.
The Santal people joined the demonstration with bows and arrow, banners and festoons. Bangalee settlers and leaders and activists of different political parties attended the programme.
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Presidium Member Mihir Ghosh and Shahebganj-Bagda Sugarcane Farmland Recover Committee general secretary Shahjahan Ali, among others, spoke at the human chain.
Speakers at the human chain demanded the arrest of Gobindaganj lawmaker Principal Abul Kalam Azad, Sapmara Union Parishad Chairman Shakil Akand Bulbul, Rangpur Sugar Mills Managing Director Md Abdul Awal.
They also demanded the punishment of the identified policemen who set fire to Santal homes.
Speakers said five months into the attack have been passed but many Santal families are still living a miserable life under the open sky.
On November 6, three Santal men were killed and 30 people, including nine policemen, were injured in a clash with law enforcers and workers of Rangpur Sugar Mills in Gobindaganj.
The clash broke out when workers of Rangpur Sugar Mills along with police went to the Bagda Farm area to ‘reclaim’ the sugar mill’s land allegedly occupied by the Santal community.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
