Government has no right to threaten Adivasis

Referring to allegations that Khasis in Moulvibazar's Kulaura upazila were being pressurised to leave their lands, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman yesterday said the administration had no right to threaten or put pressure on indigenous people.

“If somebody does so, they would have to be accountable in the future,” he said while visiting Jhimai Punjee at the district's Jhimai tea estate.

Dr Mizanur termed it a failure of the government, saying that otherwise Khasis would not have felt threatened.

Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of the forum for the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh; Prof Mesbah Kamal, coordinator of the Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Peoples; and Father Joseph Gomes, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon vice president; were present.