The indigenous communities across the country are going to celebrate the 20th International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9 with a week-long programme starting from today.
However, Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF) has demanded that the day be celebrated nationally as Bangladesh has signed the Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention-107 of International Labor Organisation (ILO).
The demand was made at a press conference yesterday held at capital’s Hotel Sundarban where BIPF President Shantu Larma made the call.
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, to be celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995 – 2004).
In 2004, the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade, from 2005 – 2014, with the theme “A Decade for Action and Dignity.”
Larma, also chairman of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), informed the General Assembly would hold a World Conference on Indigenous Peoples from September 22-23 this year with an aim for preparing a road map to work on the indigenous population’s rights.
The focus of this year’s International Indigenous Day is “Bridging the gap: implementing the rights of indigenous peoples.”
Larma said: “Although Bangladesh has signed the ILO Convention-107, no government had come forward to establish the indigenous people’s rights according to the Convention. Moreover, the number of incidents of land grabbing, eviction, killing, rape, abduction and attacks on the indigenous people are on the rise in different parts of the country.”
To bring these issues to the forefront the indigenous people of the country will unitedly celebrate the day with discussions, seminars, cultural programmes, he said.
Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon and National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman are expected to grace the main programmes to be held on Saturday at the Central Shaheed Minar.