A Garo indigenous family was evicted from their Madhupur forest home during a land recovery drive linked to a rubber estate, raising concerns over human rights and due process.
A Garo indigenous family in Tangail’s Madhupur Shal forest was evicted from their homestead during a land recovery operation linked to the Chandpur Rubber Estate on Monday, prompting criticism from locals who alleged the family was forced out “at gunpoint”.
The eviction was carried out in the name of a land recovery drive. The family’s house was demolished by authorities of the rubber plantation under the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC), locals alleged. Trees surrounding the family’s home were also cut down during the operation, according to residents.
The incident took place on Monday afternoon in the Kalapahar area of Dharati village under Madhupur upazila.
Following the incident, tension spread across the area, raising concerns about renewed conflict between the Garo indigenous community and forest authorities in the Madhupur forest region.
According to local sources, the eviction drive was conducted under the leadership of Aman Ullah Aman, manager of the Chandpur Rubber Estate, as part of an effort to recover forest land under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Residents said personnel associated with the rubber plantation authorities, accompanied by Ansar members, went to the area and evicted the poor Garo family from their homestead. They alleged that the aggressive behaviour of the Ansar members created fear and panic among the family members.
“We have lived here for years. Suddenly they came, told us to leave and demolished our house,” said Romen Kubi, a member of the affected Garo family. He also claimed that the family had not received any written notice from the forest authorities before the eviction.
In the 1980s, the Rubber Development Authority cleared nearly 7,000 acres of Madhupur’s Gajari forest to establish rubber plantations. The plantation, known as the Chandpur Rubber Estate, has yet to become profitable. Currently, banana and pineapple cultivation is widely taking place across the estate area.
The Garo family had been living for many years in the Kalapahar area of East Dharati in the Madhupur Garh region. The family claims they had purchased the land from the forest authorities and built their home there.
When contacted about the operation, Chandpur Rubber Estate manager Aman Ullah Aman said the drive was part of regular activities to recover land under the control of the forest department.
However, the affected couple, Romen Kubi and Shibli Mangshang, alleged that they had not received any written notice from the forest authorities before their home was demolished.
Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of YouthNet Global, expressed concern over the incident, saying the rights and dignity of indigenous communities must be protected.
“Evicting an indigenous family from their home without due process and in a manner that reportedly involved intimidation raises serious human rights concerns. The Madhupur forest has long been home to the Garo community, and any land management decision must respect their rights, livelihoods and historical connection to the land,” he said.
After learning about the incident, the upazila administration visited the area and held a meeting with the rubber plantation authorities.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mirza Jubayer Hossain said the authorities had apologised to the affected family. “The family has been provided with two bundles of corrugated iron sheets and Tk6,000 in cash. The authorities have also promised to bear other necessary costs for rebuilding the house,” he said.
The UNO also said there had been “excesses” during the operation by Ansar members. The relevant departments have been instructed not to conduct such eviction drives in the future without informing the UNO and the officer-in-charge of the local police station.
