Student convention seeks recognition for Adivasis

The indigenous people fought by the side of Bangalees for the country's independence in 1971 but the constitution has not recognised them as Adivasis and their right to land yet, a convention of indigenous students was told yesterday.

Although the ruling party had pledged to give the recognition, it has taken a controversial role now, speakers said at the gathering of over 150 indigenous students of Rajshahi University on the campus. Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin inaugurated the programme.

The speakers placed a 12-point demand including creation of a separate land commission for plain land Adivasis in order to reclaim their land and solve land disputes.

Other points include giving primary education in their mother languages, preserving a 5 percent quota for indigenous students in all public educational institutions, including their cultures and lifestyle in textbooks, and providing scholarships to indigenous students.

Addressing the convention as special guest, RU Pro-VC Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan expressed solidarity with the demands.

Students should come forward to ensure the rights of the communities, he said. "Only education can protect the rights of indigenous people," he added.

Bishuram Murmu, vice president of Indigenous Students' Council, presided over the convention, while Rabindranath Soren, president of National Indigenous Council, was present as chief guest.

Among others, RU students' adviser Prof Sadekul Arefin, presidium member of National Indigenous Council Anil Marandi, lawyer Babul Robi Das, and Associate Professor of RU's mass communication and journalism department Dulal Chandra Biswas spoke.