Call for protection of ethnic minority communities

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples today

Human rights activists yesterday stressed the need of constitutional recognition and introduction of separate law for ethnic minority to ensure human rights and security of these communities, reports UNB.

The experts also urged the communities to involve themselves in the politics and create representatives from them to build up a platform where they can raise their voice and talk about their rights.

They were speaking at a seminar titled “Eviction of the Marginalized People Including Indigenous Communities from their Land and their Human Rights” organised by International Indigenous Day 2018 Celebration Committee comprising of 17 organisations at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.

Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary at Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum in his key note paper said, ethnic minority people have been forced to migrate from their country again and again since 1947.

More than one lakh people became victim of land eviction in 1960 because of the Kaptai Water Electricity Plant and 60,000 of them were forced to migrate to India and Myanmar, he added. Sanjeeb also claimed that many ethnic minority communities are at risk of extinction while some of them, such as Hajong community, have become almost extinct.

Once more than 50,000 Rakhine people used to live in Barguna and Patuakhali district, which has now come down to only 2,200 as many of the people have migrated or left their lands due to security issue, he said adding that the Rakhine community may become extinct from the area after a few decades.

Speaking as special guest, Convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Affairs, Fazle Hossain Badsha said, migration of the indigenous communities cannot be prevented by the existing laws of the country. “Regardless of the regions, it is important to recognise the ethnic minority communities constitutionally and preserve their individual language, arts, culture and livelihood”, said Sanjeeb Drong. To ensure their security, special law need to be introduced, he said while urging everyone to come forward and to work together to build up a non-communal country where equal rights for every citizen can be ensured. Rowshan Jahan Moni, Deputy Executive Director of Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), said, lives and livelihood of the ethnic minority people depend much on land and their surroundings. Implementation of international agreements is needed to ensure their security in this regard, she added.

Prof Robaet Ferdous of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University stressed on the need of building a country neutral to people irrespective of their language, race and religious identities. Currently in the hilly regions, 59 per cent of the population belong to ethnic minority communities and 41 per cent are settlers, claimed Dr Robaet.

Call for protection of ethnic minority communities

International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples today

Human rights activists yesterday stressed the need of constitutional recognition and introduction of separate law for ethnic minority to ensure human rights and security of these communities, reports UNB. The experts also urged the communities to involve themselves in the politics and create representatives from them to build up a platform where they can raise their voice and talk about their rights. They were speaking at a seminar titled Eviction of the Marginalized People Including Indigenous Communities from their Land and their Human Rights organised by International Indigenous Day 2018 Celebration Committee comprising of 17 organisations at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital. Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary at Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum in his key note paper said, ethnic minority people have been forced to migrate from their country again and again since 1947. More than one lakh people became victim of land eviction in 1960 because of the Kaptai Water Electricity Plant and 60,000 of them were forced to migrate to India and Myanmar, he added. Sanjeeb also claimed that many ethnic minority communities are at risk of extinction while some of them, such as Hajong community, have become almost extinct. Once more than 50,000 Rakhine people used to live in Barguna and Patuakhali district, which has now come down to only 2,200 as many of the people have migrated or left their lands due to security issue, he said adding that the Rakhine community may become extinct from the area after a few decades. Speaking as special guest, Convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Affairs, Fazle Hossain Badsha said, migration of the indigenous communities cannot be prevented by the existing laws of the country. Regardless of the regions, it is important to recognise the ethnic minority communities constitutionally and preserve their individual language, arts, culture and livelihood, said Sanjeeb Drong. To ensure their security, special law need to be introduced, he said while urging everyone to come forward and to work together to build up a non-communal country where equal rights for every citizen can be ensured. Rowshan Jahan Moni, Deputy Executive Director of Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), said, lives and livelihood of the ethnic minority people depend much on land and their surroundings. Implementation of international agreements is needed to ensure their security in this regard, she added. Prof Robaet Ferdous of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University stressed on the need of building a country neutral to people irrespective of their language, race and religious identities. Currently in the hilly regions, 59 per cent of the population belong to ethnic minority communities and 41 per cent are settlers, claimed Dr Robaet.