State-Backed Repression in Bangladesh: Indigenous Protests Erupt Over Land Grabs and Arrest of Leader

Indigenous Communities Face Systematic Oppression

Dhaka, February 24, 2025 – Indigenous student and youth organizations in Dhaka staged a protest on Sunday, demanding the immediate release of indigenous land rights leader Ringrong Mro and the withdrawal of what they claim are fabricated charges filed against him by Lama Rubber Industries Ltd.

Mro, a key figure in the Indigenous Jhum Land Protection Committee, was reportedly forcibly taken away by plainclothes police in Bandarban’s Lama Upazila, according to his family. His arrest has sparked outrage, with activists accusing the government of complicity in corporate-led land grabs.

Forced Arrest Sparks Accusations of State Complicity

Johan Mro, Ringrong’s son, alleged that law enforcement officers abducted his father without presenting an arrest warrant, despite protests from locals.

“My father was taken by police in plain clothes. They refused to show any official documents or provide a reason for his arrest. He has been falsely accused in three cases simply for fighting to protect our land. Now, they have started targeting me too,” Johan stated.

Repeated attempts to contact Lama police station have been met with silence, reinforcing concerns that law enforcement is collaborating with corporate interests to suppress indigenous resistance.

Lama Rubber Industries: A History of Violence and Land Seizure

For years, Lama Rubber Industries Ltd. has been accused of illegally seizing indigenous land, particularly 400 acres belonging to the Mro and Tripura communities in Lama Upazila’s Soroi Union. Villagers claim the company has engaged in systematic terror campaigns to drive them off their ancestral land.

Reports suggest that hired men linked to the company have carried out arson attacks, destruction of Jhum fields, desecration of Buddhist monasteries, and looting of indigenous homes.

“They vandalized Ashok Buddhist Monastery, looted Buddha statues, and burned our fields. When we tried to resist, they filed false cases against us,” a local resident stated.

Corporate Crimes with Government Support

According to Rangdhajan Tripura, convener of the Land Protection Struggle Committee, Lama Rubber Industries acts with impunity, confident that the Bangladeshi government will not intervene.

“If we lose this land, we lose our very existence,” Rangdhajan warned.

He recalled an incident on April 9, 2022, when the company allegedly hired over 200 Rohingyas to attack indigenous lands under the leadership of company chairman Moazzem Hossain.

“They chopped down our trees, then on April 26, they set fire to the plantation, destroying millions in natural resources. Our people suffered severe food shortages as the fire wiped out wildlife and contaminated our water sources,” he added.

Despite clear evidence of land grabbing and corporate-backed violence, the Bangladeshi government has failed to take any action against these crimes.

Escalating Attacks on Indigenous People

The violence against indigenous communities has intensified in recent years. In January 2023, armed men looted homes in Rengyen Mro Para, burning seven houses and forcing entire families to flee into the night.

In another incident on April 26, 2022, Lama Rubber Industries was accused of burning 350 acres of Jhum land across Rengyen para, Langkom para, and Joychandra Tripura para, further displacing indigenous families.

Government Inaction Despite Human Rights Commission Intervention

Following the April 2022 arson attacks, the National Human Rights Commission directed authorities to take legal action and rehabilitate the affected families. However, these recommendations were ignored, and land-grabbing operations have continued.

On September 24, 2022, land grabbers escalated their campaign of terror, cutting down 300 banana trees belonging to an indigenous villager in Rengyen para. Instead of holding the perpetrators accountable, law enforcement filed multiple false cases against the land defenders.

Protesters Condemn State Repression

During Sunday’s demonstration, Paya Mro of the Mro Students’ Council condemned the government’s role in enabling corporate land theft.

“For years, the state—either directly or through its proxies—has been terrorizing indigenous people and pushing them further into marginalization. The arrest of Ringrong Mro is just another example of this relentless persecution,” he declared.

Riya Chakma, General Secretary of the Hill Women’s Federation, criticized the government’s blatant disregard for legal procedures.

“The Home Affairs Adviser himself stated that no one should be arrested in plain clothes. Yet, yesterday, his own forces violated that principle by detaining Ringrong Mro without a warrant. Where is that **Home Adviser now?” she demanded.

Echoing these concerns, Saisanu Marma, General Secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Unit of Pahari Chhatra Parishad, issued a stark warning.

“This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a long-standing, undeclared campaign of repression against indigenous peoples. If the government continues to ignore our democratic protests, the hills may one day erupt with the sounds of armed resistance,” he cautioned.

A State That Protects Corporations Over Its People

Reng Young Mro, Vice President of Pahari Chhatra Parishad, detailed Lama Rubber Industries’ history of oppression.

“This company has been operating like a criminal syndicate for years. Even in 2017, it falsely accused Mro and Tripura people of damaging its rubber plantations,” he noted.

Despite formal complaints to the government, including an investigative committee’s recommendation to cancel the company’s lease, no action has been taken. Instead, authorities continue to shield the company, turning a blind eye to its violence and illegal activities.

Bangladesh’s Double Standards on Human Rights

Bangladesh claims to uphold democracy and human rights, yet its treatment of indigenous communities tells a different story.

Dipayon Khisa, member of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti, pointed out the hypocrisy of the state.

“These so-called land commissions produce endless reports but never acknowledge the suffering of my Mro brothers or the plight of indigenous communities,” he said.

He also exposed the government’s bias, recalling how authorities prevented activists from setting up a school for displaced children.

“After the company burned down their homes, we tried to set up a school. But we were barred from entering the area, while the police accused us of illegally constructing a school,” he added.

How Long Will the World Stay Silent?

As Bangladesh continues its relentless crackdown on indigenous land defenders, the world must question its commitment to justice and human rights.

These land grabs, forced evictions, and violent crackdowns are not isolated events—they represent a state-sponsored campaign to erase indigenous identity and culture.

If the international community remains silent, Bangladesh will only be emboldened to continue its corporate-backed oppression, ensuring that indigenous voices are permanently silenced.

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