Paralegal Sabina Hembrom: An Icon of women land activist

Sabina Hembrom recounts an unsettling experience after the fall of the government: “Some people told me, your government is ousted, why don't you give-up your possession and vacate the land?’ I responded, ‘This is our land. Why should we leave?’” Reflecting on the political change, Sabina shared how her community guarded their village and protected vital land documents after the fall of Hasina regime. In the past, indigenous people often fled in fear, abandoning everything—including significant required land papers—leading to long, difficult battles to reclaim their rights. She realized that S4HL activities made her understand the importance of land documents and importance of protecting them.

Though Sabina had long been active in social work for indigenous people, land rights had never been her focus. "I always knew land was the key issue for our people, but I never had the chance to engage with it directly," she explained. That changed in 2023 when Stand for Her Land (S4HL) invited her to speak at a global meeting. Initially hesitant, she saw the invitation as an opportunity to advocate for her people and rose to the occasion. "Since then, I’ve felt it’s my duty to work for our land rights."

Sabina, a schoolteacher by profession, didn’t hesitate when invited to participate in paralegal training. “I couldn’t miss it,” she said. Now, she leads her community on land-related issues, organizing informal meetings with fellow paralegals whenever urgent matters arise. Her engagement through S4HL has connected her to local communities, government offices, and civil society organizations (CSOs), encouraging her to contest the Union Council election in 2023. Although she lost marginally with the difference of just 100 votes. Sabina, still value the support she garnered, particularly from non-indigenous voters.

Sabina’s role within the community has grown significantly—she is now frequently invited to participate in community matters and even by government officials and CSOs. “Before S4HL, I had never set foot in a land office,” she admitted. “Now, I’m a regular visitor to the land office and other government offices.” Her most rewarding achievement came when, alongside other paralegals, she successfully convinced the Union Land Officer to allocate ten houses to indigenous families. "That was my happiest moment," she said, beaming with pride.