Give constitutional recognition

Speakers at different rallies yesterday demanded that the government give constitutional recognition to the indigenous peoples as they are deprived of their fundamental rights in the country.

The meetings were held at the Town Club auditorium in Chapainawabganj, Khagrachhari and Rangamati marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

Speakers at a meeting in Chapainawabganj said miscreants attack the indigenous people, torture them and physically harass their girls.

They said the criminals threaten them in different areas on different occasions, but often go unpunished.

They alleged that land grabbers have been grabbing their cultivable lands, residences, ponds, cremation sites and even temple lands.

They urged the government to form an independent land commission immediately for indigenous people of the plain land and ensure their security and other social rights.

Lawmaker Abdul Odud spoke as the chief guest and lawmaker Golam Mostofa as special guest with Hingu Murmu, convener of Adivasi Samannoya Committee, in the chair.

Adivasi Samaj Kalyan Parishad President Kornelius Murmu and Nachole Adibasi Academy President Jotin Hemrom also spoke at the rally. 

Meanwhile, speakers at a rally in Khagrachhari urged the government to give constitutional recognition to the indigenous people.

The Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Bangladesh Marma Students Council, Bangladesh Tripura Students Forum celebrated the day with a call for implementing the UN declaration on rights of indigenous people.Jatindra Lal Tripura, chairman of Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Tribal Refugees returned from India, inaugurated the occasion.

President of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum Khagrachhari unit Chaitowai Marma, Namita Chakma, Protima Tripura and Chailau Marma spoke at the rally.

In Rangamati, lawmaker Uchaton Talukder at a rally said the indigenous people are still deprived of their basic rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

The programme was held on the Rangamati municipality premises and organised by Bangladesh Adivasi Forum CHT chapter.

Speakers said day by day the indigenous people are deprived of many opportunities and passing their days amid insecurity.

In Bandarban, speakers at a rally said they are still deprived of their fundamental rights regarding land, culture, education and language.

They also demanded constitutional recognition as well as rights to education, health and land.

The indigenous leaders at a rally in Thakurgaon urged the government to fulfil the nine-point demand, including constitutional rights and formation of a separate land commission for the indigenous people living on plan lands. 

Socio-economic and political rights are yet to be established and many families were evicted from their ancestral land and homesteads as local influential people grabbed their land with the help of a section of corrupt officials, they said.     

They also demanded withdrawal of false cases filed against the indigenous people.

 Thakurgaon district Jatiya Adivasi Parishad and ESDO Premdip Project jointly organised the programme.