Indigenous people's rights under threats

The human rights of indigenous communities in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are under threat, said the International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) Co-chair Sultana Kamal.
She made the comment while briefing journalists at the auditorium of Khagrachhari Parjatan Motel yesterday.
Implementation of different government projects is dealing a blow to the indigenous people in the region, she said.
Regarding the issue of establishing a BGB battalion in Babuchhara of Khagrachhari, she said local administration should have acquired the land taking into consideration the rights of local indigenous people, who were evicted from their homesteads, and had been passing a miserable life.
She urged the government to take effective measures to preserve the fundamental rights of the indigenous people.
Criticising the movements of Bangalee organizations against the commission, she said the commission had been working for establishing the rights of deprived people, but it was being misunderstood.
The commission's members Swapan Adnan, Khushi Kabir, coordinator Hana Shams Ahmed, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman were present.
Meanwhile, Parbatya Bangalee Chhatra Parishad formed a human chain in Larma Square area of the district town, protesting the visit of the commission's team.
The activists also gathered in front of Parjatan Motel and held a rally there.
A delegation of the commission is currently touring the hilly districts to observe the situation there. On the first day, which was Thursday, the delegation visited Khagrachhari and it was supposed to visit Rangamati yesterday.
But in the face of fierce opposition from some Bangalee organisations, it declared that it had cancelled its pre-scheduled programme, and the commission's team was returning to Chittagong.
Following the declaration, six organisations of Bangalee settlers called off their 36-hour road and waterway blockade enforced in Rangamati protesting the visit of the commission's team to the hilly region, reports our Rangamati correspondent.
The organisations enforced the blockade at 6:00am yesterday, but called it off around noon.
The leaders of the organisations at a briefing at Vedvedi in the town said they withdrew the programme as the team cancelled its scheduled visit to Rangamati yesterday.
On Thursday, at a press conference, the six organisations called the blockade declaring the commission unwanted and controversial.
The organisations are: Somo Odhikar Andolan, Parbatya Gono Parishad, Parbatya Nagorik Parishad, Parbatya Bangalee Chhatra Parishad, Parbatya Bangalee Chhatra Oikya Parishad, and Parbatya Somo Odhikar Chhatra Andolan.  
In the meantime, instead of going to Chittagong, the commission's team reached Rangamati in the evening, confirmed our district correspondent.   
Two organisations in Bandarban -- Parbatya Bangalee Chhatra Parishad and Bangalee Nagorik Parishad -- have called a 96-hour road and waterway blockade tomorrow protesting the commission's visit to the district, reports our Bandarban correspondent.
The commission is likely to visit Bandarban tomorrow.