Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad (BACSP) yesterday voiced their demands for basic rights, constitutional recognition and an immediate end to repression.
They made the demands yesterday while participating in a human chain in front of the National Museum in the capital’s Shahbagh area at 11am.
At least a hundred indigenous people took part in the demonstration under several banners supporting the cause.
They also asked for cultural harmony between the indigenous people and Bangalis and the immediate implementation of the recommendations adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) for the development of indigenous communities.
Speaking at the event, the BACSP members expressed dissatisfaction over the present condition of the indigenous communities in Bangladesh and urged the government to take effective measures to resolve these issues.
Sanjib Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, said: “We have been deprived of our basic rights and facilities since the birth of Bangladesh. The indigenous females are raped frequently and we are repressed by the people in this country, while the government remains silent and does not take any stern action against it.
“The state has failed to provide basic rights and safety to the indigenous people.”
Sanjib urged both the government and the UN to take measures to protect the rights of the indigenous people.
Sujon Majong, general secretary of BACSP, said though the incumbent government had promised to ensure all the rights of the indigenous people and implement the peace agreement in their election manifesto, they had yet to make any fruitful development in these issues.
Harendranath Singh, president of Adivasi Jubo Parishad, said: “According to our Constitution, our country is non-communal, but we are frequently subjected to torture and castigation for being indigenous.
“Many indigenous people have sacrificed their lives and contributed greatly in the Liberation War of 1971, but they were not given proper recognition and honour,” he said.
Shantipada Tripura, organising secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, also voiced that they would continue their movement until their demands were met.
Ananta Dhamai, president of BACSP, Chanchala Chakma, president of the Hill Women’s Federation was present at the event.