The International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (CHTC) has urged the government to withdraw the recent circular prohibiting the use of the term indigenous.
The commission said it was shocked to learn that the decision weeks before the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022, said a press release issued on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh has recently issued a circular directing all the electronic media of Bangladesh not to use the term indigenous.
The official notice, signed by Deputy Secretary Sheikh Samsur Rahman, asked electronic media that the university professors, experts, newspaper editors, and other members of the civil society do not use the term indigenous in any TV talk shows arranged on August 9, 2022 – the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
The commission found this position by the ministry undemocratic, derogatory to the indigenous peoples, and a serious threat to the freedom of speech of the country's citizens as it violates the freedom of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh to self-identify themselves as indigenous.
Article 33 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states, "Indigenous peoples have the right to determine their own identity or membership in accordance with their customs and traditions."
The statement said that as per the directive, the media should refrain from using the term indigenous as it is not constitutionally approved. However, there is no such law or restriction in the constitution of Bangladesh against the word indigenous.
Instead, various laws of the country, on many occasions, have interchangeably used the words indigenous, aboriginal and Adibashi to refer to the indigenous community of Bangladesh, read the press release.
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh recognized the word indigenous in the verdict of Sampriti Chakma Commissioner of Customs. Various government policies and guidelines mention the word Adibashi (indigenous).
In the 2008 election manifesto, Bangladesh Awami League also used the term indigenous and more notably, in the near past, prime minister greeted the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh on the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, and used the term indigenous a few times, the release said.
The commission said it noticed that when it comes to the affairs of indigenous peoples of Bangladesh, particularly the indigenous peoples of CHT, the Intelligence unit of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) often issues discriminatory and racist circulars against the indigenous people.
The CHT Commission urges the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh to withdraw the recent circular immediately.
The CHT Commission recommends that the Bangladesh government ratifies the ILO Convention 169 and endorses the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to uphold the distinct identity, traditions, and rights of the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh.
The Commission also asked the government to end the de facto military rule, "Operation Uttaran (Operation Upliftment)" immediately in the Chittagong hill tract areas.
