Vote for progressive democratic candidates
At a discussion at the Engineers' Institution, Jyotirindra Bodhipriyo Larma alias Shantu Larma, president of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, called on the indigenous people to cast their votes for progressive democratic forces in the upcoming election to help establish a pro-people government, which he said will take effective measures to protect their rights.
"We are small in number but we can play a vital role in the next general election through forging a unity and joining hands with the pro-liberation and progressive democratic forces in order to install a pro-people government," he said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Only a pro-people and democratic government can put an end to repression on and discrimination against the indigenous people, said Larma, also the president of Parbatya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity.
Several thousand indigenous people from across the country converged on the Central Shaheed Minar in the morning under the banner of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum and demanded constitutional recognition of their rights.
Dressed in ethnic costumes, people from Chakma, Marma, Garo, Khashia, Tripura and Santal communities sang and danced as part of a daylong cultural programme at the Shaheed Minar, inaugurated by Prof Hasan Azizul Haq.
Indigenous community leader Sanjeeb Drong, CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan, Khushi Kabir, Golam Kuddus, Haji Abdus Samad, Dilip Barua, Mesbah Kamal, Rabindranath Saran, Remond Areng, Dr Nim Chandra Bhaumik and Gobinda Barman spoke at the inaugural ceremony.
At 1:00pm, they took out a colourful procession that marched to the Engineers' Institution, where a discussion was held.
Accusing the government of violating the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace treaty, Shantu Larma said the indigenous people are still facing various forms of repression by Bangla-speaking people with direct or indirect support from the government.
Speaking as the chief guest, Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, former chief adviser of the caretaker government, said the minority communities, including the ethnic people, have always been deprived of their rights.
Deputy Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Moni Swapan Dewan said the leaders of indigenous communities should discuss with both BNP and Awami League, the mainstream political parties, to resolve their problems.
He urged the indigenous people to come forward and take part in the mainstream development activities in order to improve their lives.
Awami League leader Promod Mankin MP said the Bangalee settlers have been grabbing the land property of ethnic people, but the government is not taking any action against the persons responsible.
He also called on the government to withdraw army camps from the CHT immediately.
It is very alarming that repression on minority communities, including the indigenous people, is increasing day by day, said Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno.
She also urged the indigenous people to forge a unity to establish their rights.
Raja Dabashish Roy said, "The government has been grabbing the land of ethnic people in the name of khas land while the forest department declared their lands as reserve forests, displacing thousands of indigenous people."
The indigenous people also demanded ensuring their rights to land and forest, withdrawal of army camps from the CHT, immediate implementation of the CHT peace treaty, cancellation of the eco-park project in Modhupur forest and an end to repression.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Adivasi Union held a rally at Purna Paltan intersection where speakers called upon all sections of society to come forward to establish the rights of the indigenous people in the country.
Later, they took out a procession that paraded through different roads and ended at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Fight for Equal Rights in CHT also organised separate programmes, including discussion, to mark of the day.
The Indigenous Peoples' Day has been observed in 70 countries since 1995 to highlight the rights of the ethnic people.