Celebration of International Day for World’s Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh

By Kapaeeng Foundation

Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF) undertaken 4 day programme to celebrate the International Day for World’s Indigenous Peoples in Dhaka demanding “Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights”. On the other, several organisations at national and regional level organised rally, discussion meeting, cultural function, friendly football match etc marking the Day. Several organisations also published magazines, posters and books on occasion of the Day.

BIPF’s Press Conference in Dhaka

On 5 August 2009 BIPF organised press conference at National Press Club in Dhaka. At the press conference, President of the BIPF Mr. Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma presented a 13-point charter of demands, which include constitutional recognition of 45 indigenous communities, their entity, language and culture, formation of a separate land commission for indigenous people living on the plains and constitutional recognition of their right to land, implementation of CHT Accord, ensuring their right to education in their mother tongues and practising their culture, and appointment of indigenous teachers in schools.

Mr. Larma claimed that army domination in CHT has not ended yet. He demanded an effective roadmap for implementation of the CHT peace accord. Larma alleged that the trend to grab indigenous people's land with the help of the administration has increased recently, which is threatening the rights of the indigenous peoples throughout the country.

BISAF’s Human Chain in Dhaka

On 7 August 2009 Bangladesh Indigenous Students’ Action Council organised a human chain at Shahbagh in Dhaka demanding constitutional recognition of the indigenous peoples’ rights where hundreds of students and youths attended.

BIPF’s Inaugural Ceremony and Grand Rally

On 8 August 2009 BIPF organised inaugural ceremony at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. Presided over by Mr. J B Larma, president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh Mr. Manzurul Ahasan Khan inaugurated the programme of the day as chief guest. He demanded full restoration of the 1972 constitution and incorporation of the rights of the indigenous peoples in it. Among other, Rashed Khan Menon MP of Workers’ Party, Khushi Kabir of Nijera Kori, professor Mesbah Kamal of Bangladesh Adivasi Odhikar Andolon, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Bangladesh Mohila Parishad president Ayesha Khanam, dramatists Ramendu Majumdar and Mamunur Rashid, Adivasi representatives Shaktipada Tripura, KS Mong and Adivasi Forum general secretary Sanjib Drong spoke at the inauguration. Speakers called on the government for constitutional recognition of 45 indigenous communities, their entity, language and culture, formation of land commissions for indigenous communities in the hill districts, and recognition of their rights to education in their language.

Indigenous artists performed a display of dance and this was followed by colorful rally from Shaheed Minar to Shahbag area. Indigenous peoples from different parts of the country and different social and cultural organisstions participated in the rally.

BIPF’s Indigenous Fair and Discussion Meeting

On 9 August 2009 BIPF organised day-long indigenous fair and half-day (afternoon) discussion meeting at premises of the Engineers Institute in Dhaka. The indigenous fair that supported by Manusher Jonno Foundation was inaugurated by Industry Minister Mr. Dilip Barua. He said that since after 38 years of independence, constitutional recognition of indigenous people was not achieved. He hoped grand alliance would fulfill the issue.

On the other, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mr. Shafiqu Ahmed was attended as Chief Guest in the discussion meeting while presided over by J B Larma. Mr. Ahmed said that the first condition of protecting land rights is to conduct a survey of land in the CHT. He also mentioned that necessary measures would also be taken to recover land of the indigenous people living on plain land. The minister also sought assistance from the indigenous people to bring back the Constitution of 1972 to protect their rights.

J B Larma said that indigenous people are owner of all lands, excluding the reserve forests, in respective mouzas in CHT. There are no khas lands in the region. He came up with the views in reply to the statement of the law minister, Shafique Ahmed, who told the discussion that the government would complete land survey in the hill districts by December 2009. He added that the government was enacting laws for the hill people in CHT. But CHT Regional Council, an apex body of CHT administration, is in the dark about this. The laws should be drafted in consultation with the council.

Among other, Chakma Circle Chief Raja Devasish Roy, State minister for CHT affairs Dipankar Talukdar, Dhaka University professor Sadeka Halim, Danish Ambassador Einor Jhensen, European Union ambassador Brain Forey, Prasenjit Chakma of UNDP and ILO Country Representative Panudda Boonpala and General Secretary of BIPF Sanjeeb Drong spoke in the discussion.

TWA’s programme in Dhaka

On 9 August 2009 Tribal Welfare Association (TWA) organised discussion meeting at Shishu Academy in Dhaka. Presided over by TWA president and State Minister for Culture Promode Mankin MP, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad attended as Chief Guest. Food Minister Dr. Md. Abdul Razzak, State Minister for CHT Affairs Mr. Dipankar Talukdar MP, President of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Hasanul Haque Inu and Professor of Dhaka University Dr. Nim Chandra Bkoumik attended the discussion as special guest.

Earlier, in the morning, day-long programme of TWA was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof. Arefin Siddique at Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. Inaugural ceremony was followed by a colorful rally.

Rangamati

On 9 August 2009 “Indigenous Peoples Day 2009 Celebration Committee, Rangamati” organised discussions marking the International Day of World's Indigenous People. Predided over by Convenor of the celebration committee Mr. Prakriti Ranjan Chakma, Chairman of Rangamati Hill District Council Mr. Nikhil Kumar Chakma inaugurated the rally through releasing pigeons and addressed the meeting as chief guest. PCJSS leader and member of CHT Regional Council Ushatan Talukder, BNP district unit convenor Dipen Dewan, former RHDC chairman and district AL vice-president Chingkiew Rouaza addressed, among others.

Congratulating the present government for taking initiatives for implementation of the CHT Accord, speakers said lasting peace in the CHT is not possible without full implementation of the Accord. They also emphasised primary education through mother tongue and protecting traditional culture and heritage of the indigenous peoples. They also said that social, economic and political rights of the indigenous people are yet to be established and many indigenous families were evicted from their ancestral land and homesteads as outsider Bangalee settlers grabbed their lands.

Earlier, a mammoth colourful procession paraded main thoroughfares in Rangamati town.

Khagrachari

On 9 August 2009 Biswa Adivashi Dibosh Udjapon Committee organised a discussion on the occasion of the Day. Chairman of Task Force on Rehabilitation of Returnee Jumma Refugees and IDPs Jatindra Lal Tripura MP attended the discussion as chief guest. He hailed the government for forming different committees to implement the CHT Accord, forming Land Commission to resolve land disputes in CHT, activating the Task Force and declaration of withdrawal of temporary camps from CHT.

Rajshahi

On 9 August 2009 A procession of indigenous people including men, women and children paraded the roads of Kakonhat municipality in Godagari upazila. Later at a discussion on the municipality office premises, they demanded formation of a separate land commission for the indigenous people of plain land, ensuring primary education in their mother tongue, quota in jobs and putting an end to atrocities on them. Nine NGOs namely Karitas, Ekota, Ashwas, Jaitun, Manwa Nattya Dal, Titas, ESCDF, ASAUS and Shacheton Sharik organised this programme.

Kakonhat municipality Mayor Abdul Majid was chief guest at the meeting presided over by Astha Network President Ganesh Mardi while Jatiya Adivashi Parishad President Anil Marandi, spoke, among others.

Thakurgaon

On 9 August 2009 Thakurgaon District Adivashi Parishad in cooperation with Eco Social Development Organisation, RDRS Bangladesh and Karitas organised a discussion and cultural programme at the district Shilpakala Academy Auditorium in Thakurgaon with a call to recognise constitutional and land rights for indigenous people.

At the discussion with National Adivashi Parishad President Surja Murmu in the chair, speakers also demanded mother tongue-based primary education for indigenous children and indigenous people's quota in higher education and government service.

Sylhet

On 9 August 2009 Divisional Committee for Celebration of International Indigenous Day organised rally and discussion meeting at Saifur Rahman Auditorium in Sylhet. Discussion meeting was presided over by committee convenor Mr. Gouranga Patra while Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Md. Badar Uddin Ahmad Kanran attended as Chief Guest. Among others, Dr. Tulshi Kumar Das of Shahjalal Science and Technology University, PCJSS leader Mangal Kumar Chakma, Chairman of Sylhet Upazila Parishad and its Upazila Nirbahi Officer spoke in the discussion. A colorful rally was brought in Sylhet city before starting the discussion.

Earlier on 8 August 2009 at a press conference at Sylhet Press Club the leaders of the communities placed a 12-point demand including the indigenous people's participation in all government safety net programmes.

Mymensingh

On 9 August 2009 a day-long programme was organised by International Indigenous Day Celebration Committee at Zila Shilpakala Academy marking the day. Mymensingh Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin inaugurated the programme. Regional Director of CARITAS Theofil Nokrek, Prof Tahmina Parveen, Brother Gueum, Kazi Azad Jahan Shaheen, Dilip Hagidak and Dr Bilium Animesh Sangma spoke as special guests at the inaugural session presided by Tushar Daring, convener of the committee. Speakers said that the rights of the indigenous people in Bangladesh as well as in the world should be protected for a harmonious society.

On the other, at a discussion titled 'Establishing social, cultural and land rights with constitutional reorganisation', at the same venue, Bangladesh Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr MA Sattar Mandal addressed as chief guest. Greener Marak presented the key-note paper at the discussion presided over by Subash Jengsum, president of international indigenous day celebration committee, in the chair. Speakers said that as citizens of the country, indigenous people deserve all kinds of rights but their social, cultural and land rights are yet to be reflected in the constitution. They demanded a separate land commission to establish the indigenous people's rights on land and mitigate their sufferings caused by land grabbers.

Earlier, a colourful rally paraded the main thoroughfares of the town. A friendly football match was also held marking the occasion in the afternoon.

ILO Book Launching Programme

On 10 August 2009 BIPF and ILO jointly organised a book launching ceremony at WVA Auditorium in Dhaka with Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma in the chair. The book titled “The ILO Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Populations, 1957 (No. 107) and the Laws of Bangladesh: A Comparative Review” written by Raja Devasish Roy was published by ILO marking the International Day for World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni attanded the programme as Chief Guest while State Minister for CHT Affairs Dipankar Talukdar and Attorney General for Bangladesh Mr. Mahbubey Alam were present as special guest. Among others, Prof. Dr. Mizanur Rahman of Dhaka University, eminent human rights defender Barrister Sara Hossain, PCJSS leader Mangal Kumar Chakma, indigenous rights activist Ajoy A Mree spoke in the programme.