Editorial
Rights of indigenous people
It's time we recognised their role in society
Indigenous people protest at quota violation' -- this was the headline of a small news item in The Daily Star last Sunday. The story was about hundreds of indigenous people of Bandarban hill district holding a protest demonstration against government's violation of quota system for them in appointing primary school teachers. This was just another glaring example of growing disillusionment among the indigenous people over their rights, both fundamental and constitutional, being violated in every sphere of life. The group that was holding the demonstration in Bandarban demanded cancellation of the appointments to 103 posts of assistant teachers where only 15 indigenous candidates were finalised. It, in their eyes, is gross violation of Hill District Local Government Act 1989 and most importantly the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord signed in 1997 between the then Awami League government and PCJSS, the representative body of the indigenous community. If what they are saying is right, then such discrimination and deprivation can only lead to an atmosphere where suspicion and anger will further distance them from the mainstream. That must be avoided. In fact the dissatisfaction over the slow, at times even non-implementation of the treaty, prompted the community leaders to vent their anger in public. Neglecting them or their rights in the society as common citizens only fuelled the mistrust and suspicion between them and the majority Bangalees. Concerns were also expressed by various rights and humanitarian groups many a time in the past about the consequences of such deprivation faced by the indigenous community. It is high time the authorities took up the issue more seriously than before and instead of ignoring them, recognised the indigenous community as a part of our society. They feel isolated even after so many years of independence.
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