Bangladesh: RSU Condemns Recent Attacks Against Indigenous Peasants
We hereby share an unofficial translation of a statement by Revolutionary Student Unity (RSU) of Bangledesh, shared on their Facebook page on the 21st of April.
Revolutionary Student Unity Condemns and Protests the Attacks and Beatings by
Land Grabbers on Santal tribals in Dinajpur and Gaibandha.
The attackers must be brought to justice immediately,
and the indigenous people’s land rights must be ensured.
On April 12, 2026, a peaceful march was held in the Bagda Farm area of Gobindganj demanding the return of the sugarcane farmers’ land and justice for the murder of three Santals. Notorious land grabber Sapan Sheikh was identified leading and carrying out an unprovoked attack with Ataur Rahman Sabu, Abdur Rauf Babu, and Mohalain Pradhan, and on April 19 in Birganj, Dinajpur, an attack was launched on Santal families, with houses set on fire and temples vandalized under the leadership of Rezaul Islam.
Condemning and protesting the said attacks and vandalism, Dilip Rai, President of Revolutionary Student Unity, and Jabir Ahmed Jubel, General Secretary, said in a joint statement:
“For a long time, in collusion with local land grabbers, business groups, the administration, and various state agencies, oppressive acts such as the eviction of indigenous communities from their ancestral lands and land grabbing have been ongoing. As a continuation of this, similar incidents are repeatedly occurring in various parts of the country, including Tangail, Gaibandha, and Dinajpur. On the question of protecting the rights of indigenous people in the hills or plains, the BNP-led coalition government is following the same path as previous rulers. By using state agencies, land grabbers are carrying out intimidation, physical abuse, evictions, and land seizures against indigenous people, while a culture of impunity is further encouraging these oppressive acts.”
The leaders further said, “Even during the interim government, we saw the Kola community’s habitat labeled as ‘illegal’ and evicted; but in reality, the forcible seizure of their land and the lack of any rehabilitation measures reveals the oppressive nature of the state. The current government has maintained this same pattern. Although a promise was made before the election to build an inclusive Bangladesh, uniting indigenous and Bengali, believers and non-believers alike, The subsequent incidents of continuous persecution and mob terror against dissenters, religious minorities, and ethnic groups across the country after the election prove that this government is not a government for the people, but rather represents the oppressor class.”
Revolutionary Student Unity demands the immediate arrest of all attackers and the guarantee of the safety of indigenous lands and lives. It also calls for the swift formation of an ‘Independent Land Commission’ to protect the civil and land rights of all indigenous nationalities in the hills and plains.
Sender
Taib Islam, Office Secretary
Revolutionary Student Unity, Central Committee
Contact: 01839368509
