New Age, June 30, 2009
Land right of ethnic minorities demanded
Jatiya Adivasi Parishad on Sunday called upon the authorities concerned to ensure the rights of the ethnic minorities to lands.
They made the call in a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka, marking Santal Rebellion Day, slated to be observed tomorrow.
‘The Santals revolted in June in 1855 to get back their lands from occupiers, but their right is not ensured till date,’ Rabindranath Soren, organisation secretary of the Parishad, told the press conference.
The lands of the ethnic minorities were being occupied over years in the name of eco-park, commercial gardening, coal mine and social forestation, evicting the minority communities, which is a complete violation of human rights, he said.
The organisation president, Anil Marandi, said though Bangladesh is a people’s republic and it should ensure rights for all, the ethnic minorities are victims of eviction, torture and abuse.
The organisation leaders called on all to observe Santal Rebellion Day on June 30 to help ensure the rights of ethnic minorities.
The press conference was also addressed, among others, by National Adivasi Parishad member Bimol Razoar, Adivasi Forum organising secretary Shaktipad Tripura, Adivasi Chhatra Parishad joint secretary Ramprashad Mahato and cultural activist Moinuddin Chisti.
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The Daily Star, Dhaka, 30 June 2009
Indigenous people demand steps to protect rights
Star National Desk
Indigenous people have demanded a separate land commission and enactment of laws to protect their traditional culture and language, and constitutional rights.
Speakers at a discussion at Kakonhat municipality playground in Rajshahi district yesterday demanded punishment to the land grabbers who evicted 74 indigenous families at Khatirpur under Porsha upazila of Naogaon district on June 13, reports our RU correspondent.
Adivashi Sangskritik Unnayan Sangstha (ASUS) organised the discussion as part of their daylong programme marking the 154th anniversary of Santal Hul (revolution).
Indigenous people brought out a procession in Narail town yesterday demanding action against of Saif Hafiz Khokon who is allegedly grabbing their dwelling places with the help of fake documents, reports a correspondent from Narail.
Foundation for Women and Child Assistance (FWCA), a Rajshahi-based NGO, also demanded punishment to the perpetrators of the attack and arson incidents at 74 indigenous households in Porsha of Naogaon, reports our staff correspondent from Rajshahi.
A FWCA team visited Khatirpur Sonadanga village in Porsha and distributed cloths for the women and children of the affected families who are still staying under the open sky.
Colourful rally, discussion, archery, cultural programmes including traditional Santal dance and drama marked the daylong programme organised by Adivashi Sangskritik Unnayan Sangstha (ASUS) at Kakonhat municipality playground yesterday.
The programme began with offerings of wreaths to the idols of Sidhu and Kanu, the two brothers who spearheaded the Santal Hul.
The 1855-57 Santal Hul, one of the major revolts against the British rule, was directed against the influential people including landlords, usurers and administrative and police officials who made the life of the innocent Santals miserable.
At the discussion at Kakonhat municipality playground, speakers urged the government to observe the day at state level and to ensure the rights of indigenous people to their land and language.
They recalled the sacrifices and role of indigenous people during the Liberation War in 1971.
Speakers demanded punishment of the land grabbers who evicted 74 indigenous families at Khatirpur under Porsha upazila of Naogaon district on June 13 and immediate steps for rehabilitation of the evicted families.
Rajshahi-1 lawmaker Omar Faruque Chowdhury was present as the chief guest with ASUS Executive Director Rajkumar Shaw in the chair.
Jatiya Adivashi Parishad President Anil Marandi, Godagari upazila Chairman AKM Ataur Rahman Khan, Sangkalpa Executive Director Everest Hembram, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad Rajshashi district unit President Bimol Chandra addressed the discussion, among others.
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The Daily Star, Dhaka, 30 June 2009
Constitutional recognition of indigenous people demanded
Freedom fighter Kakan Bibi honoured
Kakan Hennyata, who is also known as Kakan Bibi, an indigenous female freedom fighter from the Khasi community, has every right to be aggrieved.
Although she fought in as many as 20 battles with the Pakistani occupation forces and supplied arms and food to the freedom fighters in Sector No 5 during the liberation war in 1971, her contribution to the country's independence had never been acknowledged.
And she is no exception; the entire indigenous community is being badly treated in the country. They are being evicted from their own land, let alone acknowledging someone's contribution.
“I am Kakan Bibi. Everything seems beautiful here, everything seems okay and very good. I thank you all. That's it,” this is all that an aggrieved Kakan Bibi had to say after receiving the Sidhu-Kanhu-Fulmoni Award at a reception at Engineers' Institution in the city yesterday.
The way Kakan Bibi was ignored bears testimony to the story of deprivation and marginalisation the indigenous people have underwent in the country over the years.
Kakan Bibi, 82, received the award at a daylong ceremony organised to mark the 154th anniversary of Santal Hool (rebellion).
Speakers at the programme reiterated their demands for constitutional recognition of the indigenous people, introducing primary education in their mother tongue, recognition of their land rights and return of the lands that had been grabbed.
“The indigenous people's right to land has not been ensured till date. It is not only a matter of shame but also sheer disregard for humanity,” said noted academic Prof Khan Sarwar Murshid in his speech as the chief guest.
He handed over the award -- a crest, Tk 20000 and a citation, to Kakan Bibi.
“Today we are recognising someone who had helped us win the liberation war being a successor of Sidhu-Kanhu-Fulmoni,” said litterateur Selina Hossain, who presided over the award giving ceremony.
The daylong programme was divided into four sessions. Earlier, a discussion on 'Constitutional recognition of Adivasi: precondition to build a democratic and religion impartial society' was held.
The daylong programme organised by Bangladesh Adivasi Adhikar Andolon ended with placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar following a cultural function staged by different indigenous communities.
The speakers at the programme demanded withdrawal of fake cases filed against the indigenous people, separate land commission for indigenous people on plain land and immediate arrest of the people involved in the attack on the indigenous people in Naogaon.
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