Govt has failed to fulfil promises

Says Shantu Larma

30 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Rashed Khan Menon inaugurates a programme marking the 155th anniversary of the Santal Revolution by releasing balloons at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city yesterday. Photo: STAR

The Awami League government has failed to fulfil any of its promises made to the indigenous community even 18 months after it assumed office, Chairman of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma alias Shantu Larma said yesterday. "The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace accord has not yet been implemented. The government has, in fact, made some moves that pose a threat to the lives of Adivais," he said at a discussion, organised by the Jatiya Adivasi Forum, marking the 155th anniversary of the Santal Revolution. Criticising the role of the CHT Land Commission, he said, "It is trying to conduct a land survey in CHT instead of settling land disputes first, which will actually benefit the Banglees, not the Adivasis." Larma, also the chairman of the CHT Regional Council, criticised the two Adivasi ministers in the present cabinet for failing to work for the well-being of their community. He said State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukdar and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promod Mankin did not make any efforts to include the word 'Adivasi' in the recently passed Ethnic Minority Cultural Organisation Bill-2010. "The situation that led to the Santal revolution in 1855 still exists. The party in power has changed many times, yet the fate of the indigenous community remains the same," Larma said. Other speakers at the discussion called on the government to give constitutional recognition to the indigenous people, ensure their right to practise traditional land management and take steps to protect their language. Terming the indigenous people 'missing population', economist Abul Barkat said, no governments carried out a proper census of indigenous people or made a move to give them constitutional recognition. "Without ensuring the rights of the Adivais, it won't be possible to achieve the 'Vision-2021' or turn Bangladesh into a welfare state as promised by the AL government," he said. Information Commissioner Prof Sadeka Halim, lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad Chairperson Anil Marandi and General Secretary Rabindranath Soren also spoke.