Students and youths from ethnic minority communities rallied on Friday, demanding constitutional recognition and protection of the rights of ethnic minorities in the country.
The rally, organised under the banner titled 鈥楽tudents and Youth Organisations of Ethnic Minorities鈥� in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture in the capital, was held to observe International Day of the World鈥檚 Indigenous Peoples.
The Day is observed each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world鈥檚 indigenous population.聽
The speakers also called for an end to 鈥榓rmy rule鈥� in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which include Khagrachhari, Rangamati, and Bandarban; full implementation of the 1997 CHT peace accord, cancellation of tourism-related development projects and bringing land grabbers to justice.聽
Presiding over the rally, Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad president Alik Mree denounced the violence against ethnic minority communities across the country that has escalated since Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 fall on August 5.
He expressed hope that the newly-formed interim government would work for protecting rights of ethnic people, give constitutional recognition and bring an end to the 鈥榓rmy rule鈥� in the CHT.
He also criticised the interim government for choosing Supradip Chakma, a former ambassador and current chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, as one of its advisers to represent ethnic communities without consulting those communities.
鈥榃e need two representatives, one from the CHT and one from the plain land, who are well-versed in our issues,鈥� he added.聽
Bangladesh Adivasi Forum鈥檚 student and youth affairs secretary Harendranath Singh, Bangladesh Adivasi Juba Forum president Anthony Rema and its vice-president Tony聽 Chiran, Bangladesh Chhatra Union general secretary Bahauddin Shuvo, Garo Student Federation鈥檚 Dhaka city unit president Nipul Mrong and Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad Dhaka city unit president Jagadish Chakma also spoke at the rally.
