Colourful Rallies, Processions, Discussions in Districts

Indigenous communities cry for constitutional recognition

9 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

International Day of World's Indigenous People in pictures: 1. A large procession of indigenous people marching through the streets of Rangamati hill town. 2. A colourful procession of indigenous people parades thoroughfares in Khagrachhari hill town. 3. Indigenous people join a procession organised by nine NGOs at Kakonhat municipality in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi. 4. Jatiya Adivasi Parishad organises a colourful procession in Thakurgaon town. 5. Indigenous girls present their traditional dance at Nachole in Chapainawabganj district.Photo: STAR

Leaders of indigenous communities in different districts have reiterated their demand for constitutional recognition of the indigenous people and ensuring their fundamental rights. At discussions marking the International Day of World's Indigenous People yesterday, they also emphasised primary education through mother tongue and protecting traditional culture and heritage of the indigenous communities. Adivasi people played a significant role during the Liberation War in 1971 but they are yet to be given constitutional recognition, speakers said at a discussion on the premises of Rangamati Municipality office, reports our correspondent. Social, economic and political rights of the indigenous people are yet to be established and many indigenous families were evicted from their ancestral land and homesteads as outsider Bangalee settlers grabbed their lands, indigenous leaders said. Congratulating the present government for taking initiatives for implementation of the CHT Peace Accord, speakers said lasting peace in the hills is not possible without full implementation of the deed. Nikhil Kumar Chakma, chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council inaugurated the rally through releasing pigeons and addressed the meeting as chief guest. PCJSS leader and member of CHT Regional Council Ushatan Talukder, BNP district unit convenor Dipen Dewan, former RHDC chairman and district AL vice-president Chingkiew Rouaza addressed, among others. Earlier, a mammoth colourful procession paraded main thoroughfares in Rangamati town. In Khagrachhari, Biswa Adivashi Dibosh Udjapon Committee organised a discussion with Jana Sanghaty Samity (JSS) central committee leader Sudhakor Tripura in the chair, reports our correspondent. Indigenous people in CHT and other parts of the country are facing repression and discrimination, Refugee Taskforce Chairman and lawmaker from Khagrachhari constituency Zatindra Lal Tripura said in his address as chief guest. He hailed the government for forming different committees to implement the CHT Peace Accord, forming Land Commission to solve land disputes in CHT, activating the taskforce to rehabilitate refugees and withdraw some army camps from CHT. CHT Regional Council Member and JSS leader Sudha Sindhu Khisha urged the government and the chairman of Land Commission to dispose all land dispute cases before survey of the CHT land. Our Staff Correspondent reports from Rajshahi: A procession of indigenous people including men, women and children paraded the roads of Kakonhat municipality in Godagari upazila yesterday. Later at a discussion on the municipality office premises, they demanded formation of a separate land commission for the indigenous people of plain land, ensuring primary education in their mother tongue, quota in jobs and putting an end to atrocities on them. Nine NGOs -- Karitas, Ekota, Ashwas, Jaitun, Manwa Nattya Dal, Titas, ESCDF, ASAUS and Shacheton Sharik -- organised the programme. Kakonhat municipality Mayor Abdul Majid was chief guest at the meeting presided over by Astha Network President Ganesh Mardi while Jatiya Adivashi Parishad President Anil Marandi, spoke, among others. International Day of the World's Indigenous People was observed in Thakurgaon with a call to recognise constitutional and land rights for indigenous people, reports our correspondent. Thakurgaon District Adivashi Parishad in cooperation with Eco Social development organisation, RDRS Bangladesh and Karitas organised a discussion and cultural programme at the district Shilpakala Academy Auditorium. At the discussion with National Adivashi Parishad President Surja Murmu in the chair, speakers also demanded mother tongue-based primary education for indigenous children and indigenous people's quota in higher education and government service. Our Chapainawabganj Correspondent adds: A daylong programme was held in Nachole under Chapainawabganj district marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous People yesterday. Brig Gen (retd) Enamul Haque, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, inaugurated the programme while public representatives and indigenous leaders were present at the function presided over by Hingu Murmu. Organisers of the discussion at upazila parishad ground, Upazila Lahanti Akhra, Adivasi Academy, Adivasi Samajik Sangothon submitted a memorandum with 20-point demand to the prime minister through the state minister. Manobadhikar Bastobayan Sangstha Pabna district unit organised a procession and a discussion meeting in the town marking the occasion. At the discussion presided over by organisation President advocate Abdul Matin, speakers demanded proper steps for establishing the rights of indigenous people, reports our correspondent.