Not too late to stop it

Speakers at a discussion yesterday urged the government to take strict measures to stop violence against ethnic communities in order to uphold the country's image abroad.

They also demanded that the government ensure rights of the communities.

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It will be an embarrassing situation for the country if the government fails to fix the issues before the United Nations publishes the third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights about Bangladesh in May 2018, they said.

The observations were made at the discussion organised by the Coalition of Indigenous Peoples Organisation on UPR, at The Daily Star Centre in the capital.

They recommended that the government establish the ethnic people's right to land, implement Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord completely, form an independent land commission for the plain land ethnic groups, and prepare a separate act to protect their rights.

Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, said the government always plays tricks through giving assurance when the international community questions them about the ethnic people's rights during the UPR review session.

“But they [the international community] will understand the tricks someday. Therefore, the government should start working instead of providing assurance,” he added.

Rabindranath Soren, chairperson of Kapaeeng Foundation, said there is an increasing tendency among the ethnic people to go abroad due to violence against them.

Besides, violence against the communities' women and children has increased in the recent years, while several settlements of the communities were illegally grabbed by influential people backed by the ruling party, he alleged, adding: “We are demanding a solution to the problems.”

Eugin Nokrek, a member of an ethnic minority community in Tangail, said, “We don't own the land where we have been living for generations; even we cannot use the land due to obstacles set by the authorities and influential people.”

“They harass us by filing cases on false allegations if we don't follow their order,” he said while sharing his experiences.

Banchita Chakma, a member of National Human Rights Commission; and Horendra Nath Singh, president of Adibashi Jubo Parishad, also spoke among others.