Indigenous people deprived of right to land in name of projects
The indigenous people in Mymensingh are being deprived of the right to their lands since those are being occupied in the name of different government projects like eco-park, social aforrestation, recreation centre and training centre for air forces, speakers at a seminar said yesterday.
They suggested the caretaker government form an independent land commission led by ethnic representatives and conduct land mapping for solving the issue permanently.
Mass-Line Media Centre (MMC) and Caritas jointly organised the seminar on 'Land Problem of Indigenous People: Greater Mymensingh Perspective' at LGED Bhaban in the city.
While presenting the keynote paper, Sanjeev Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, said the culture and heritage of the indigenous people won't survive if their rights to land and forest are not established.
Pramod Mankin, a former Awami League lawmaker who is also a member of the indigenous community, said the government always intends to conduct their development work on the land of the indigenous people.
Prof Mesbah Kamal of Dhaka University said forest department always files cases against the indigenous people so that they can be easily evicted.
“The Department of Forests has to bring in a total change in their attitude,” said Raja Devasish Roy, special assistant to the chief adviser.
Prof Dalim Chandra Deb Barman and Caritas Executive Director Benedict Alo D' Rozario also spoke on the occasion.
MMC Executive Director Kamrul Hasan Manju conducted the seminar where many indigenous leaders also took part.
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