‘Ensure indigenous people’s land rights, protect culture’

Indigenous people across the country will observe the International Day of the World's Indigenous People today reiterating the demands for ensuring their land rights and protecting their culture.
Various organisations have taken elaborate programmes including cultural functions, rallies, films shows, photography exhibitions and discussions in the capital and other parts of the country.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon delivered a message on the occasion urging member states, indigenous people, the UN system and all relevant actors to take immediate steps to protect and promote endangered languages, and to ensure the safe passage of this shared heritage to future generations.
"The loss of the languages, the overwhelming majority of which are indigenous peoples' languages would not only weaken the world's cultural diversity, but also our collective knowledge as a human race," he said.
Referring to the UN General Assembly's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Ban Ki-moon said it sets out a framework on which states can build or re-build their relationships with indigenous peoples and provides a momentous opportunity for states and indigenous peoples to strengthen their relationships, promote reconciliation, and ensure that the past is not repeated.
Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF) will hold a rally to be inaugurated by Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury at the Central Shaheed Minar at 10:00am today.
Law and Land Adviser AF Hassan Ariff will attend a discussion as the chief guest in the afternoon, said a press release.
BIPF President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma, other indigenous leaders, intellectuals, educationists and politicians are expected to attend the discussion.
Besides, the BIPF has organised screening of documentary films, photography exhibitions on indigenous people, rallies and discussions in the capital.
Our Rangamati correspondent reported that local NGOs in Chittagong Hill Tracts have also chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day with the theme "Indigenous People's Economic and Social Rights."
Our correspondent from Mymensingh reported that tribal leaders at a press conference at the Mymensingh Press Club yesterday demanded that the government observe the day at national level and recognise the rights of indigenous people.
The indigenous people are deprived of the economic, social and political rights enjoyed by other citizens in the country, said former lawmaker and Tribal Welfare Association (TWA) President advocate Promod Mankin at a press conference organised by the TWA, Garo Chhatra Association and Garo Chhatra Union.
The organisations will hold programmes to be inaugurated by Bishop Ponen Paul Kubi at a local gymnasium.
A correspondent from Chapainawabganj adds: the World Indigenous People's Day Observance committee in Chapainawabganj at a press conference at the Town Club demanded that the government meet the demands of the indigenous people.
The indigenous leaders said more government attention is required in order to ensure the rights and socio-economic development of the indigenous people.