Indigenous People's Lands
Law minister for ban on sale to outsiders
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed speaks at a seminar on “Land problems and legal rights of the ethnic group/ indigenous community in greater Mymensingh”, organised by Caritas Perlam-MJF project, a joint initiative of Caritas and Manusher Jonno Foundation, at Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday. Photo: STAR
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed yesterday said there should be a law that prevents the indigenous community from selling their lands to people outside their community. The minister was addressing a seminar styled “Land problems and legal rights of the ethnic group/ indigenous community in greater Mymensingh”, organised by Caritas Perlam-MJF project, a joint initiative of Caritas and Manusher Jonno Foundation, at Jatiya Press Club in the capital. He suggested the plain land indigenous people draft district-wise lists of indigenous community lands, which have been occupied illegally or declared as vested property. If lands of indigenous community are declared as vested property, the land ownership claimants should file their claims with tribunals that have been set up to deal with this issue, Shafique said. "We will extend maximum legal support to protect your (indigenous) lands," he said. State Minister for Social Welfare Promode Mankin said the parliamentary caucus on indigenous people is working on formulating indigenous people's rights act to protect their rights. Presenting a paper, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb Drong placed a 10-point recommendation to protect land rights of indigenous people. The recommendations include -- formulation of separate land commission for plain land indigenous people, formation of national indigenous commission, constitutional recognition of indigenous people, and punishment to illegal land occupiers. Rina Roy, director (rights) of Manusher Jonno Foundation, also spoke on the occasion.
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