The Mro people at the Chimbuk mountains in the district of Bandarban have been strongly protesting against the construction of 5 star Marriott hotel & resort by Sikdar group.
For several days, they have been protesting against the cancellation of the five-star hotel project of Sikdar Group in The Mro neighborhood of Chimbuk-Thanchi.
62 eminent citizens in the country have joined the protest.62 people have called for immediate review of the cancellation of the project of Sikdar Group and the threat and intimidation of the Mro community.The call was made in a statement signed by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Legal Association (BELA) on behalf of the statement on Monday (November 16).
Among the 62 people who made the statement were Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Sirajul Islam Chowdhury, Human Rights activist Sultana Kamal, co-ordinator of Nijera kari, khushi kabir, economist Hossain Zilur Rahman, trustee of the GSK Dr. Zafarullah Chowdhury, former Governor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Executive Director of TIB Iftekhar Azam, Executive Director of rManusher Jonnya Foundation Shaheen Anam, Chakma Raja Devasish Roy, Professor Anu Mohammad, Professor of Jahangirnagar University, Professor Dr. Geetaara Nasrin, Asif Nazrul, Professor of Dhaka University.
The statement said that the controversial Sikdar Group, has started Marriott hotels and resorts construction of a five-star building at The Mro-dominated Kapru Para, Dala Para and Shong Nam Hung on Chimbuk-Thanchi Road. The proposed construction slot has already started to cut down the mountains and prevented the movement of the Mro ethnic group from moving to various places including the cremation, water source. The construction of luxury buildings by a private enterprise, without the independent and prior consent of the Mro community is seen as an invasion of the land of the Mro community by 10,000 people in the country, without the consent of the people of Bangladesh, the Chittagong Regulation, the District Council Of The Land, the Land Dispute Resolution Commission, and the constitution of Bangladesh.
The statement also said that it would be illegal under the law of the construction of hotels and amusement parks. The District Council of the district of Chottogram cannot allow the transfer of land ownership without the consent of the concerned community and the recommendation of the respective Mro Headman. If so, it would violate the Principal of Natural Justice. The construction of such anti-interest structures is in contrast to the Constitution of Bangladesh as the Constitution recognizes the right of people to live, property and profession. We fully support the livelihood of the Mro community, access to natural resources, the welfare, culture and security demands.
Earlier, the Mro people marched in the Chimbuk hill demanding the closure of the Sikdar Group's tourist infrastructure. They protested the construction of the hotel in The Chimbuk hill by playing with the drums and drums. Hundreds of Mro women have formed human chain in the area as a mark of protest.