Dinjapur indigenous people block roads for relief
Local public representatives say relief supply is not enough in the area
Hundreds of people from indigenous communities in Dinajpur today blocked roads demanding government relief.
They demonstrated with placards in hands and blocked a portion of the Dinajpur-Rangpur Highway in front of the Palli Bidyut Samity-1 area at Chehelgazi union under Dinajpur sadar upazila.
The protest resulted to a complete halt of the emergency service vehicles on both sides of the road.
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Protesters claimed that they have not received any aid from the government or their union parishad as yet even though their member has taken photocopies of their national identity cards several times.
When contacted, ward-7 Member and Senior Vice President of Chehelgazi union Awami League Georges Sohel said, "The amount of relief goods we received from the union parishad is not enough to meet the demands of my area."
"My ward has 4,500 voters, but I have received only a few hundred packets [of relief]. Yet we are standing by the people to the best of our abilities," he added.
Ward-3 Member Jibon Kumar Ray said he received only 38 relief cards to be distributed in his area.
"I have distributed 12 of them among the indigenous families while the rest among poor people from other communities," he added.
Dinajpur sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Magfurul Hasan Abbas said, "We have delivered food items to the people of the [indigenous] communities. The government is working to ensure relief for all."
The protesters lifted the blockade after the administration assured them of relief packages as soon as possible, he added.
