Recognition through constitution
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The government should provide constitutional recognition to the indigenous people and take special measures for their economic, social and cultural development, urged the Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Peoples and Minority Affairs at a discussion yesterday.
The caucus also demanded to enact legislation in light of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 107 (Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957) and ratify ILO Convention 169 (Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989) as promised in the five-year plan.
The issues of indigenous people's rights should be discussed not only outside but also inside the parliament.
The discussion, titled "The Role of ILO Conventions 107 and 169 in Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh" was jointly organised by the Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Peoples and Minority Affairs and Research and Development Collective (RDC), in association with ILO and Indigenous Peoples Development Services (IPDS) at the capital's The Daily Star Centre.
According to the caucus, it is important to ensure maximum coordination of the local government in ensuring the ancestral, customary, wetlands and forestry rights of the indigenous people. It also recommended that issues related to the development and land rights of the indigenous people be discussed in a special session of the parliament.
IPDS president Sanjeeb Drong, also general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, presented the keynote at the event.
"During the Liberation War, we pledged and fought to ensure equality, human dignity and social justice for the people of Bangladesh. But more than 30 lakh indigenous people of the country have not progressed as much after 50 years of independence," he said.
Lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon, founding member of the caucus, who presided over the programme virtually, said the issues of indigenous rights should be discussed not only outside but also inside the parliament.
He sought the cooperation of all to enact the indigenous rights act, separate land commission for indigenous people, a minority commission and anti-discrimination act in the parliament.
"We have ratified Convention 107, and as a modern state, it is our responsibility to ratify Convention 169," said Lawmaker RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury.
Dhaka University Prof Mesbah Kamal, Prothom Alo joint news editor Sohrab Hossain, ILO representative Alexius Chicham, Daily Samakal advisory editor Abu Sayeed Khan, among others, spoke at the event moderated by Jannat Ferdousi Lucky.
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