Local Baf held a rally at Durga Mandir premises in Thakurpara protesting Kashimpur Union Parishad Chairman Shawkat Hossain's bid to grab a 22.2 acres of khas land in Andharmanik where Koch and Barman communities have been living for the last 19 years.

Recently, Shawkat has filed a case to evict around 300 landless indigenous people from the land in a bid to grab it, locals said.

A Baf team visited Andharmanik and Thakurpara villages under Kaliakoir upazila to see the condition of the Koch and Barman communities there. They were living under constant threat from the Bangalees, locals told the Baf leaders.

"We live a insecure life. When the administration was informed of the matter, it did not take proper measures. If things remain the same, we would be in deep trouble," said Gavinda Barman of Thakurpara.

"Bangladesh has not become a democratic country even after 32 years of independence and the state has failed to provide basic human rights to most citizens," Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, president of the Baf, said at the rally.

Mamunur Rashid, a renowned drama activist, said the state was not working for the helpless people.

Among others, Sanjeev Drong, Andrew Solomar, Nazrul Kabir, Hafiz Uddin, Sunil Chandra Barman, Nitish Chandra Barman, Govinda Barman, Gitanath Barman and Narayan Barman addressed the rally while Bidhan Krishna Barman chaired it.