Lokokendro forum has organized a Lokokendro convention on 11 October 2015 at ketkibari union under Domar Upazilla in Nilphamari District- in associate with Udayankur Seba Sangstha(USS) and Actionaid Bangladesh. The objectives of the convention were (1) To increase the negotiating power with local government and take a collective action against injustice. (2) To submit the alternative proposal to the law maker for their development. Member of Parliament, freedom fighter, journalist, teacher, OC of Domar Thana, local elites, CSO representative, Upazilla & Union Parishad Chairman, development activists, circle member and community people etc were present there. More than 3000 people participated in the convention. Honorable member of parliament Mr.Aftab Uddin Sarkar, freedom fighter, Nilphmari-1 were present as the chief guest and Mr. Abdur Razzaque Basunia, Upazilla Parishad Chairman, Domar, Nilphamari, Mr. Alauddin Ali, Executive Director, Udayankur Seba Sangstha(USS), Mr.Sarower Manik , Principle, Moshiur Rahman Degree Collage , Mr. Moazzem Hossain, OC of Domar thana, Mr.Abu Taher Sarkar ,Chairman,Vogdauri Union Parishad, Mr. Monoranjon Roy, Chairman, Bamunia Union Parishad, Mr.Azadul Islam, Principle, sunmoon kinder garden & Mr Johirul Haque pramanik- Chairman Ketkebari union were, were present as special guests. Mr. Humayun Kabir Monju chaired the convention. Lokokendra has organized the awareness raising activity through colorful decoration. Mrs. Sefali Begum, chairperson, Lokokendro forum, chilahati delivered the welcome speech and then the Chief Guest unwrapped the publication name of ‘‘Amader Paribortoner Galpo” which is published by Lokokendro forum, chilahati. Babli Rani presented the activity, achievement, Challenge and recommendation of Circle and Lokokendro and the keynote paper on ‘‘Corruption of forest department & Land grabbing from poor people through using gazette which was published in 1965”. Key note paper was presented by Mokaddes Hossain Litu, Activista Chilahati. After presenting the keynote, open discussion session started which was moderated by Alauddin Ali, Executive Director of USS. In open discussion session Mizanur Rahman said, ‘‘The forest department has grabbed our land illegally and when we took action to get our land back from the forest department, they submitted 3 fake cases against us. The government took no initiatives to solve the problem and there were no investigations of the cases. As a result, now we are suffering for those fake cases. We want to get back our land and to be free from those fake cases”. After finishing the open discussion, the guests expressed their valuable speech. The chief guest said, ‘‘I am grateful to Lokokendro forum,USS and Action Aid, Bangladesh for organizing this convention. We will try to solve the problem.” Special guest Mr Abdur Razzaque Basunia said, ‘‘I appreciate the activity of USS because USS does not operate the micro-credit. They only provide the awareness session among the community people. They try to empower the women so that they can claim their rights.” Mr. Alauddin Ali said, ‘‘When we started the project in the area, the situation and condition of the people were very miserable but now the situation is better & the people are very much positive. The government and local administration are helping the community people for their development. Now the community peoples can raise their voice and are enjoying their rights”. Mr. Moazzem Hossain said, “If any child marriage is arranged in our area, just let me know and I shall take necessary steps to prevent that child marriage”. Mr Sarower Manik, principal Nilphamari Moshiur Rahaman Degree college said, ‘‘The circle members are aware to claim their rights and they are claiming their rights and enjoying that and it should be continued”. Mr. Monoranjon Ray said, ‘‘I know about the activity of circle, Lokokendro and USS. They are performing for our social change and I would request USS to work in all unions of domar upazilla”. Mr. Abu Taher said, ‘‘We should continue to educate our girl and as a result the child marriage will be reduced”. Best performance award of the year 2015 was received by Nari Mukti Lokokendro Activists for preventing corruption of Sonali Bank Ltd- Chilahati branch. Adikar PWDs group received best performance award for access to government services. Protiva Lokokendro received best performance award for establishing community Clinic. Then the crests were distributed among the guests. Mr Humayun Kabir Monju said, ‘‘I would request Honorable Member of Parliament to provide special effort to recover the land from forest department”. He thanked all for participating, providing suggestions & comments to the events for future improvement.
Reported by: Mr. Kaykobad Hossain, PC, USS, Chilahati
