Dhaka, Aug 10 – Speakers, on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, at a programme here on Thursday, said incidents of repression of indigenous people must be stopped. The speakers came up with the comments while addressing a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka University (DU).
They also said violence against indigenous women has been increasing due to the deterioration of law and order.
If the criminals are punished, these types of crime wouldn’t happen, they said.
The theme of the discussion was “Indigenous Peoples’ Migration and Movement”.
The day-long programme comprising of tribal dance and music ended with a call for recognizing the indigenous people in the constitution.
Presided over by Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, president of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum (BAF), former adviser of caretaker government Advocate Sultana Kamal inaugurated the programme while Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu was presented as the chief guest.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the government has been making all-out efforts to protect the rights of indigenous peoples in Bangladesh.
There is no way to undermine the demand of equality claimed by the minor communities, said Inu.
“The constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples as the minor community through the 15th amendment is one of the major steps to protect their rights. More steps would be taken gradually,” he further said.
DU Mass Communication and Journalism department Prof Dr Rubaiyat Ferdous said, “Usually four tools are used to conduct eviction: attacking homes, destroying livelihoods, attacking religious institutions and repress the women and children.”
“Nowadays, the violence on indigenous women have been chosen by the perpetrators as the prime tools to expedite the indigenous peoples’ migration from their own land, as a result, the number of indigenous people is decreasing gradually,” he added.
BAF general secretary Sanjib Drong, Bangladesh Jatiya Adivasi Parishad President Rabindrath Saren, DU History Department Professor Dr Mesbah Kamal, Columnist Syed Abul Maksud, actor Mamunur Rashid, also spoke among others – UNB
