Call to end discrimination against indigenous people
Leaders of indigenous communities and some noted personalities yesterday demanded constitutional recognition of indigenous people to end discrimination against them.
They also stressed the need for introducing radio services and using other mass media especially for the indigenous people to portray the real picture of their life and their sufferings in the face of discrimination and repression.
They made the remarks at a seminar on Media and Indigenous People organised by Journalism Training and Research Institute (JATRI) at its office in the city yesterday.
Raja Devashish Roy, Chakma circle chief and member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, was the chief guest of the seminar.
He urged the government to take necessary measures to end discrimination against the indigenous people.
The indigenous people should have the right to self-determination for their social, political, cultural and economic development, he said.
He also urged the media men to work for the betterment of indigenous communities deprived for years.
Presenting the keynote paper, Sanjeeb Drong, Bangladesh Adivashi Forum general secretary, demanded that the government ensure Adivashis' rights to land, formation of national commissions and implementation of CHT peace treaty.
Information Commissioner Prof Sadeka Halim said recognition of the indigenous people in the constitution is a must to restore the '72 constitution.
In the Chittagong Hill Tracts area, around 42 percent land is registered in the name of Bangalee settlers while only 30 percent in the name of indigenous people, she said.
She also suggested formation of a separate directorate or department for the indigenous people of plain land or the renaming of CHT affairs ministry as Ministry for Indigenous People.
Describing the Bangalee settlers as criminals, The Daily Star Assistant Editor Shahnoor Wahid said the settlers are torturing the Adivasis and occupying their lands forcibly.
Radio ABC Head of News and Programme Sanaullah Lavlu urged young journalists to report on the sufferings of indigenous people due to discrimination against them.
Speaking at the function, Prodip Murmo, a member of Santal community and a student of Dhaka University, urged the government to introduce an education system in their native languages to reduce drop out rate of indigenous students.
Press Institute of Bangladesh Chairman Dulal Chandra Biswas moderated the discussion while JATRI Chief Jamil Ahmed, journalist and columnist Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the seminar.
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