The 9thAugust, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was celebrated throughout the country urging all the freedom-loving people to be united for realization of the rights of indigenous peoples, amid government’s order to the media, experts, academics and members of civil society to avoid using the term ‘Adivasis’ (indigenous peoples)while speaking in relation to them at any discussion on the occasion of the Day.Different socio-cultural and political organizations and groups organized discussions, rallies and processions on this year’s theme ‘Bridging the Gap: Implementing the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’.
The central programme was organized by Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF) at central ShahidMinar in Dhaka on 9 August 2014 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The programme includes, among others,public gathering, cultural display and rally. Presided over by president of BIPF and ParbatyaChattagram Jana SamhatiSamiti (PCJSS), the programme was inaugurated by the chairman of National Human Rights Commission Prof. Mizanur Rahman. Minister for Aviation and Tourism, Rashed Khan Menon was present as chief guest while the eminent civic rights activists delivered solidarity speech in this event.
Inaugurating the programme, the NHRC chairman said ‘we have to integrate indigenous peoples if we want to build Bangladesh in the spirit of the independence war. They can no longer remain deprived. Now, when the United Nations identified them as indigenous peoples, we hesitate to call them indigenous. This is a clear violation of the international law’.
He also questioned saying: “Who are those intellectuals to say that Bangladesh will face security problems if the term ‘Adivasi’ is recognised?” Prof. Mizanur Rahman opinedthat the security of a country cannot be ensured through a military equipped with modern arms. It is rather the unity among all in a country free from torture and discrimination, can ensure peace and security.
Rashed Khan Menonsaid, “Non-recognition of the word ‘Adivasi’ is an argument of the ignorant”.Menon, who was a member of the constitution amendment committee, had opposed the move regarding non-recognition of indigenous peoples.As a member of the parliamentary caucus on indigenous peoples, Menon expressed his frustration over the insignificant budget that had been allocated this fiscal year for indigenous peoples living on the plains. He called for a separate land commission to resolve the land issues of indigenous peoples living in the plain lands of the country.
Jyotirindra BodhipriyaLarma warned that if the government did not meet the demands of indigenous peoples, tougher movements would be launched. “We know how to launch movements and how to defend our rights,” he said. Mr. Larma alleged that the indigenous peoples are being deprived of their major constitutional rights as it had been during the Pakistan period. Since the independence, the successive governments failed to implement the CHT Accord of 1997 and ensure rights of the indigenous peoples. He added, “The present government has not taken any positive initiative to implement the Accord either.”
In Rangamati, Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) chapter of the BIPF organized rally, discussions, cultural programme and children art competition on the occasion of the Day. Presided over by president of CHT chapter of the BIPF Mr. PrakritiRanjanChakma, the programme was attended by Member of Parliament of Rangamati constituency Mr. UshatanTalukdar as the chief guest. Among others, convener of M N Larma Memorial Foundation BijoyKetonChakma, member of CHT Regional Council GunenduBikashChakma, chairman of Rangamatiupazila council ArunKantiChakma, UNDP representative Robert Stallman, general secretary of CHT Headmen Network Shanti BijoyChakma, vice chairman of Bilaichariupazila Ms. ShyamaChakma, chairman of Balukhali union BijoyGiriChakma, cultural activist ManojBahadur, PCJSS member Udayan Tripura et al spoke in the programme.
In his speech, UshatanTalukdar urged the government of Bangladesh to provide constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples and to implement CHT Accord properly, otherwise tougher movement would be launched. Criticizing the government, he said that government is trying to amend three Hill District Council Acts and to enact CHT Development Board Act and to set up Science and Technology University and Medical College in Rangamativiolating the CHT Accord and dishonoring the opinions of CHT people.
It is worth mentioning that on 7 August 2014 the Press Information Department (PID) issued a release urging the media, experts, university teachers and civil society members to avoid the word ‘Adivasi’ at discussions and talk shows on the international indigenous peoples’ day.The PID also mentioned in the release that under the 15th amendment of the constitution, indigenous (Adivasi) people would be termed as “small ethnic groups or tribes”.However, every banner, festoon and speech by civil society members and politicians at the indigenous day celebration used ‘Adivasi’ to describe the indigenous peoples, not the terms dictated by the 2011 amendment.
In Rangamati, fanatic organisations of Bengali settlers namely CHT Equal Rights Movement, Bengali Chhatra Parishad andParbatya Youth Front created communal tension against International Indigenous Day and Indigenous Jumma people with an aim to foil programme undertaken by CHT chapter of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum on the occasion of the Day.