Bill drafted for nat'l body to protect Adivasis' rights

The parliamentary caucus on indigenous affairs plans to place a bill which proposes creating a national commission to ensure rights of indigenous people in the upcoming session of the parliament.

The proposed "Bangladesher Adivasi Jatisomuher Adhikar Ain-2015" details the formulation and scope of the mission. 

The caucus organised a discussion in Cirdap Auditorium in the capital yesterday to finalise the draft. Leaders of different indigenous communities, civil society members, and officials of local and foreign development organisations were present at the discussion.

According to the proposal, the national commission will plan, implement, coordinate and monitor actions taken for the socio-economic development, protection and promotion of cultural diversity and solidarity of the country's ethnic minorities.

Speakers at the discussion said the commission would receive advice from Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Consultative Committee comprising 39 indigenous representatives from seven regions of the country -- southeast, northwest, mid-north, northeast, coastal, southwest, and centre.    

Goutam Kuman Chakma, technocrat member of the caucus, presented the draft, which was prepared with input from different indigenous communities through nine regional and two national meetings.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, the chief guest at the discussion, hoped use of the word "Adivasi", stated in the constitution as "khudro nri-gosthi", would not create any barrier in passing the bill.  

However, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman Khan said to avoid any uncertainty in passing the bill, the caucus can simply use the term stated in the constitution and the term "Adivasi" with an oblique. 

Fazle Hossain Badshah, convener of the caucus, who chaired the discussion, said, "We will place the bill with the selection committee as soon as the date of the next parliamentary session is announced."

It will then go to the law ministry for ratification and then finally to the parliament, he said. RAM Obaidul Moktadir Chowdhury, MP, said since the bill is a private one, lobbying from other MPs and pressure from civil and indigenous communities would be needed to ensure passing of the bill this session.

Indigenous leaders Sanjeeb Drong and Rabindranath Soren also spoke at the programme.