Constitutional Provision
Govt firm to protect rights of ethnic minorities: Shafique
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said the government will protect the rights of "ethnic minorities" and "tribal people", and will take necessary steps to develop their cultures, traditions, and languages.
A new provision will be included in the constitution to this effect, he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with some leaders of indigenous communities and researchers on these communities at his secretariat office yesterday afternoon.
The law minister said the "ethnic minorities" will not be recognised as "Adivasi people" in the constitution, as the ethnic leaders have "backtracked" on their demand.
Shafique Ahmed said the ethnic leaders told him that they have no objections if they are recognised as "people of different ethnicities and cultures".
The ethnic leaders and researchers demanded the law minister take steps to include a provision in the constitution recognising the ethnic people as Adivasi (indigenous).
Barrister Raja Devasish Roy, chief of Chakma Circle, and Prof Mesbah Kamal, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Adhikar Andolon, told The Daily Star that it was their personal opinion in the meeting with the law minister that the indigenous people can be recognised as "people of different ethnicities and cultures" in the constitution, as the government did not accept their demand at all.
"The law minister told us that discussion can take place in the parliament on recognition of the indigenous people, if any of its members raises the issue," Raja Devasish said, adding that they have not backtracked on their demand.
Prof Mesbah said that if the indigenous people are recognised even as "people of different ethnicities and cultures", a step of their struggle will be achieved.
Recognising Adivasis as indigenous will require the state to ensure some rights of them including the rights on their lands as per International Labour Organisation convention, he said, adding that their struggle for constitutional recognition of indigenous people will continue.
Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum; Advocate Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha-Christian Oikya Parishad; and Dr HKS Arefin, an anthropologist; also attended the meeting.
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