JS body starts drafting law on rights of Adivasis

The parliamentary caucus on indigenous affairs yesterday initiated the process for submitting a draft act on "ensuring security" and "rights to land, education, culture and health" of the indigenous community.

The draft will be in two formats, one using the term "indigenous people" and the other "small ethnic minority", since the constitution does not recognise the former term, said the caucus convener and lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badshah.

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Addressing a press conference in Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital, he said they support the community's demand to be recognised as indigenous people and that the draft recognises 19 more indigenous groups from the present 47.

Every day they get information of indigenous people being ousted from their land, deprived of education and being tortured, all of which will stop once the law is enacted, said Badshah.

He said if not accepted in parliament, indigenous people should come out onto the streets to initiate a movement and use the draft as a tool.

Similar drafts may come from other lawmakers, said AKM Fazlul Huq MP who chaired the programme.

Coordinator of the caucus' technical committee Prof Mesbah Kamal and the caucus member Kazi Rozi also spoke.