Adivasi leaders under the banner of Mymensingh Indigenous Organizations Unity Forum have urged the government to include their 11-point charter of demands in the 11th parliamentary election manifesto.
The forum’s Secretary General Aronna Chiran came up with the demands in a press briefing on Sunday at the Bangabandhu Auditorium in the Tangail Press Club.
Among others, the Adivasi Forum Convener Vadro Mrong, Joint Convenor Ajoy Mre, Joinshai Adivasi Parishad President Ujin Nokrek and Garo Students Union President Linkon Zibra spoke on the occasion.
The demands included the rights for constitutional recognition, a provision for the reservation of 5% seats in parliament, 5% indigenous quota in government jobs, collective rights to land, forest and natural resources.
The ethnic minorities in the hills and plains are facing problems regarding their customary and traditional rights on land and forests, the speakers said.
The government should ensure the rights of the adivasis according to the International Labour Organization Convention 107 act, they claimed.