National minority leaders and civil society representatives have iterated their demand for constitutional recognition and an end to repression and rights violation.
Their demand came on Saturday as they observed International Day of the World鈥檚 Indigenous Peoples at a ceremony organised by Bangladesh Adivasi Forum at Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka city.聽聽聽
Speakers at the event also demanded that the interim government must take stern measures to control the violation of the rights of the national minority communities and stop grabbing of their land and torture against their women.
The daylong programme, themed 鈥楨ffective use of artificial intelligence for securing indigenous rights and shaping the future鈥� featured a rally, traditional cultural performances and speeches.
Chaired by Adivasi Forum vice-president Ajay A Mree, a discussion also highlighted full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts accord and the creation of a separate land commission and ministry for the plainsland national minority people.
Forum general secretary Sanjeeb Drong criticised the government, saying that the Bangladesh government did not officially observe International Day of the World鈥檚 Indigenous Peoples, while many countries did.
The written statement of forum president Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, better known as Santu Larma, was read out as he did not attend the programme.
Santu Larma in his statement said that most indigenous communities still lived under existential threat and the interim government excluded the national minorities from the ongoing reforms.
Speakers, including Shaheen Anam, ex-officio member of Manusher Jonno Foundation鈥檚 governing board, protested against the rampant grabbing of land of the national minority peoples.
Rights activist and Nijera Kori coordinator Khushi Kabir accused the state of denying the existence of national minority peoples, despite Bangladesh鈥檚 multi-ethnic and multi-lingual reality.
Association for Land Reform and Development executive director Shamsul Huda also criticised the government for its failure to celebrate the day, while Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain stated that the CHT-based national minority peoples remained neglected under the state policies.
Bangladesh Adivasi Forum joint general secretary Gajendranath Mahato, Bangladesh Indigenous Students鈥� Struggle Council president Ananta Tanchangya, Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum president Anthony Rema, Communist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, Socialist Party of Bangladesh assistant general secretary Rajekuzzaman Ratan and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad representative Jona Goswami Kajol, among others, gave solidarity speeches.
The day concluded with cultural performances by artistes from different national minority peoples, followed by a colourful procession from Shaheed Minar to Bangla Academy.
