70pc ethnic minorities living in plains pushed below poverty line

The coronavirus situation has already pushed around 70 percent of ethnic minorities living in the plains below poverty line, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum said yesterday. 

The pandemic has critically impacted marginalised ethnic minorities living in hills and plains, as they have lost or will lose jobs, the forum said in a virtual press conference ahead of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (August 9). The theme of the day for this year is "Covid-19 and indigenous peoples' resilience."

Discussants at the conference claimed that only a meagre amount of financial assistance allocated for Covid-19 are reaching ethnic minorities. They demanded special financial package for these communities, so that they can sustain themselves during the crisis.

Bangladesh Adivasi Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb Drong placed a written statement and 14-point demand, providing part-time job for at least 10,000 persons and financial assistance to students so they do not drop out.

Their demands also include a timeline based roadmap for full implementation of CHT Accord signed in 1997, implementation of CHT land commission law, separate land commission for the minorities, enactment of "Adivasi Rights Protection Act", stopping communal attacks on ethnic minorities and violence against minority women, withdrawal of false cases and others.

Grabbing ethnic minorities' land and uprooting them from their traditionally owned land, communal attacks, abductions and other forms of oppression have increased significantly, claimed Sanjeeb, adding that violence, such as rape, against ethnic minority women have increased alarmingly.

He also said the government lacks will to implement the CHT accord.

Oikya NAP President Pankaj Bhattacharya supported the forum's demands.

"The state is still denying recognition of indigenous peoples' rights…Bangladesh is home to many races, and Bengalis can be proud only after ensuring equal rights for indigenous people," he said.

Dhaka University Prof Mesbah Kamal said ethnic minority communities are facing hardship and heading toward a bleak future amid the crisis.

Many of them left their ancestral houses looking for jobs, and now they are coming back home, where opportunities of work is almost none, he added.

Ajoy M Mree, the forum's vice president, and DU Prof Robaet Ferdous also spoke at the conference.

Organisers also announced that different ethnic minority organisations have chalked up week-long programmes to celebrate International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.