& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

278 tribal refugees return on first day

From Nurul Alam
RAMGARH, (Khagrachhari). Mar 28: Repatriation of the first batch of 6700 tribal refugees from Tripura state of India be-f;an today with the return of 64 amilies having 278 members.
A family of four first reached the Ramgargh transit camp at 12:50 pm from Mandirghat on the other side of the border, crossing a 225-feet bridge built over the River Feni that divides Bangladesh and India.
They were received by the members of the National Committee on Chittagong Hill Tracts headed by Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Abul Hasnat Abdullah and officials.
Repatriation of the first batch is scheduled to be completed by April 7, officials said.
Cheering crowds from the two neighbouring countries thronged the banks of Feni river on both sides of the border to witness the repatriation. Both sides of the boraer wore a festive look amid music from microphones. Tight security measures were taken.
The 64 families were earlier brought to makeshift camps at
Mandirghat in Subroom area in buses from Kathalchhari camp for repatriation.
During a visit to the makeshift camps there before the repatriation started, this correspondent found a festive mood both among the refugees and local people.
Talking to this correspondent. Sainda Mogh. an old woman of 70 said. T feel so glad to be back to my homeland in Chittagong Hill Tracts which is far far better than refugee camp."
Smiling Sainda said that she was hopeful of a peaceful life in her home at Fenikul village under Ramgarh police station in Khagrachhari hill district.
She informed that she had fled her homestead along with other family members 11 years ago when their house was torched allegedly by miscreants and took shelter in Tripura state of India.
Sainda also said that the camp life in India was "unbearable" due to water crisis and various diseases.
"I can take bath in my home
comfortably which was not possible in the camp." Sainda cited.
Aunga Mogh. 55. said "1 feel very happy today as I am waiting here to go back to my homeland." He also narrated the water crisis and spread of diseases in the camp life.
Aunga said that he was a woodcutter at Sonaga village under Ramgarh police station of Khagrachhari hill district. He added that his family comprising his wife and only son went across .the border in 1986 as his house was set ablaze at night by "miscreants."
His wife died in the camp at Kathalchhari in Tripura after suffering from disease, said Aunga in an emotion choked voice. "I would have felt much happier today if she was alive."
Chairman of the Refugee Welfare Association. Upendra Lal Chakma while visiting the refugees in the makeshift camps before the start of the repatriation, told the journalists that the people of hill tracts have reposed confidence on this government. "I am hopeful that .the returnees will be rehabilitated properly and the refugee issue will see an end." said Up-endra.
Turning to the repatriation in 1994, Upendra said. "The previous government showed hypocracy in fulfilling the commitments as per agreement and as a result I am not satisfied with the measures taken by it for rehabilitation of refugees."
Earlier. a ceremonial farewell was accorded to the refugees at Mandirghat by Indian government by organising an inaugural song and folk dance before starting the repatriation.
Abul Hasnat Abdullah and other members of the National Committee on CHT went to Mandirghat at 11:40 am. They were received by Indian officials and were taken to the podium erected there for the purpose.
District Magistrate of South Tripura K Raizzessar Rao delivered his address of welcome while Deputy Chief Minister of the state Baiddanath Ma-jumder. Chief Whip Abul Hasnat Abdullah and Upendra Lal Chakma also spoke on the occasion.
Baiddanath said, with the solution of the refugee issue, relationship between India and Bangladesh will be further strengthened.
Abul Hasnat Abdullah said the present government has taken up pragmaUc measures to resolve the refugee issue.
But Upendra Lal in his speech here claimed that 40.000 tribals from Chittagong Hill Tracts had crossed to India in Jthe face of persecution and repression by Pakistani government before emergence of Bangladesh and settled in Arunachal.
Another 10,000 tribals later took shelter at Mizoram while in 1986, over 50,000 tribals crossed to Tripura state of India and took shelter in camps.