Mujahidul Islam Selim, a member of the presidium of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), said the "Yes" vote in the upcoming July referendum to implement the July Charter must not be allowed to win under any circumstances.
Selim made the remarks at a national roundtable discussion titled “13th National Parliamentary Election and the Expectations of Indigenous Peoples for Inclusive Policymaking”, organized by the Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum at The Daily Star conference hall in Dhaka on Tuesday.
He described the referendum as unnecessary and deceptive, saying: “Those supporting the ‘Yes’ vote have already lost. If the decision were left to the people, they would understand that ‘Yes’ cannot succeed. That is why government funds and administrative orders are being used to influence the outcome.”
Selim urged members of various hill and plain indigenous communities to raise their voices for their rights, noting that Bangladesh’s social structure has historically deprived indigenous peoples due to their weak voice. He added that although reforms were promised after the 1971 uprising, inequality persists at all levels, and anti-independence forces are pushing the country backward.
Other speakers highlighted ongoing discrimination and underrepresentation of indigenous peoples:
- Rajekuzzaman Ratan, joint general secretary of BASADER, said indigenous peoples, numbering over 3 million, face fear and political oppression during elections and criticized constitutional weaknesses.
- Taslima Akhter, Garment Workers Solidarity president and Dhaka-12 parliamentary candidate, said Bangladesh is not mono-ethnic, yet the constitution ignores ethnic minorities. Indigenous parliamentary representation remains minimal despite a population exceeding 4 million.
- Ehsan Mahmud, writer and journalist, said the state pressures indigenous communities to identify as Bengali, threatening their languages and cultures.
- Barrister Sara Hossain, senior lawyer at the Supreme Court, said human rights violations continue, with militarization and political suppression targeting indigenous communities, and called for their inclusion in the Human Rights Commission.
- Professor Mahmudul Sumon, Jahangirnagar University, said indigenous rights have not been guaranteed since independence and accused the state of a neo-colonial approach in hill districts.
- Gajendranath Mahato, joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum, urged youth to continue the struggle for indigenous rights.
Satej Chakma outlined six key demands: constitutional recognition of all indigenous groups, land rights commissions for plains and hills, full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord, restoration of a 5% job quota, reserved parliamentary seats, and primary education in indigenous mother tongues.
The discussion, chaired by Tony Chiran, also featured Falguni Tripura, Khan Asaduzzaman Masum, Ripon Banai, and human rights activist Trijinad Chakma. Youth and student representatives participated in an open discussion at the end of the event.