Vow to establish constitutional rights

Indigenous peoples in different districts across the country observed the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples amid festivity yesterday.

Ethnic Garo people wearing their traditional colourful dresses brought out a procession at Jalchhatra in Madhupur upazila of Tangail.

They held cultural function, sports competitions and a discussion at Corpus Christi High School premises.

Speakers at the programme raised their eight-point demand for protecting the rights of the indigenous people in Madhupur Garh region.

Later, crests were awarded to educationists Protibha Sangma and Maria Chiran of Madhupur, and writer and researcher Shubhash Jemchang of Mymensingh in recognition of their contribution for the Garo community.

The day was also observed at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University at Santosh in Tangail with a discussion following by cultural function.

Wearing traditional dresses and holding musical instruments, indigenous people belonging to Munda, Santal, Urang, Kharia, Urisha, Khasi and Garo communities joined a daylong programme on Notre Dame Junior School premises in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar.

St Joseph Mission in Sreemangal organised the programme in cooperation with Sokhomota project of Caritas' Sylhet chapter.

The speakers urged preserving unique culture and traditions of indigenous people.

Santal community of Joypurpara and Madarpur in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha observed the day with a vow to establish the rights of indigenous people in the society.

They demanded exemplary punishment of the people involved in killing three Santal men and torching hundreds of sheds of the community people in the name of an eviction drive on November 6, 2016 at Shahebganj sugarcane farm.

Hundreds of Santals of Joypurpara and Madarpur villages hosting banner, festoons and placards marched towards eight kilometres off Gobindaganj upazila Sadar for holding a meeting at local Shaheed Minar.

As police intercepted them at the turning near Gobindaganj Girls' School, they held a meeting there.

Hundreds of indigenous people from different areas took part in the colourful procession organised by Mymensingh Adivasi Dibos Udjapon Parishad at Krishnachura Chattar beside Mymensingh Railway Station in the morning.

Wearing traditional dresses and holding musical instruments, indigenous people belonging to Garo, Hajong, Cooch, Banai, Dalu, Khatriya, Hodi and Mandai communities from Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Tangail and Netrakona joined the programme.

Later they submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Mymensingh, placing their seven-point demands including constitutional recognition of the indigenous people, formation of a separate land commission to protect their ancestral land, a separate ministry for indigenous peoples living in plain lands and reservation of five percent seats for indigenous peoples in parliament.

The day was observed in Dinajpur, Rangpur and Joypurhat with different programmes.

In Rangpur, the indigenous people brought out a procession from Dharmadas Kuthipara in Rangpur city on Thursday.

Later, a discussion meeting was held at Adivasi Community Centre in the city.

In Birampur upazila of Dinajpur, a procession was brought out from Birampur Pilot High School. Later a discussion meeting was held there.

In Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur, a procession was brought out from Sujalpur Model High School. A discussion was also held.

In Joypurhat, people brought out processions in Kalai and Panchbibi.

Indigenous people brought out a procession from Rajjyamoni Para in Khagrachhari Sadar at 9:30am. Afterwards they organized a meeting in front of Yangdha Buddhist Bihar gate.

Jana Sanghati Samiti (MN Larma) organized a discussion at Khagrapur community centre in Khagrachhari Sadar. Speakers demanded constitutional recognition of indigenous people and full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord.

Bangladesh Adivasi Forum's CHT chapter organised a programme on Rangamati municipality premises yesterday.

The speakers demanded constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples in the country and ensuring their basic rights.

They demanded justice for heinous crimes like rape and murder to prevent such incidents in CHT.

Indigenous people in Bandarban observed the day with demand for ensuring their constitutional recognition.

Speakers at a rally in Bandarban town demanded full execution of the CHT peace agreement.

People of different communities including Marma, Chakma, Tripura, Tongchyanga, Khyang, Bawm, Mro, Lusai, Khumi and Chak celebrated the day with different programmes.