A meeting of landless people was held at Rangpur Public Library Ground on Tuesday organised by Bangladesh Landless Movement, with a three-point demand, including rehabilitation before development.
The meeting placed three key demands - rehabilitation of landless people, ensuring their access to government-owned khas land and establishing a discrimination-free society.
Advocate Hasnat Kaiyum, chief adviser of the Bangladesh Landless Movement and president of the Bangladesh State Reform Movement, attended the meeting as the chief guest.
He called for a special tribunal to prosecute those involved in looting and siphoning off national wealth abroad. He also demanded the recovery of laundered assets and reforms to make the state more accountable to citizens.
Speaking at the function, the organisation's General Secretary Sheikh Nasir Uddin demanded landless cards for all landless people, reserved parliamentary seats for them and the formation of an independent Land and Agricultural Reform Commission.
Presiding over the meeting, Divisional Coordinator Kanak Rahman called for priority-based rehabilitation of landless people in Rangpur and the creation of employment opportunities through industrialisation and agricultural development.
Other speakers demanded the inclusion of landless representatives in khas land distribution committees and the recovery of illegally occupied government land for allocation to genuine landless families and farmers.
The leaders warned of a nationwide movement if their demands were not met.
Following the meeting, participants brought out a procession through Rangpur city and submitted memorandums to the Rangpur City Corporation administrator and the deputy commissioner.
