Human Chains, Rallies in Districts
Indigenous people call for restoration of '72 constitution
Jatiya Adivasi Parishad forms a human chain at Shaheb Bazaar in Rajshahi city, right, brings out a procession in Thakurgaon town yesterday demanding restoration of the 1972 constitution and constitutional rights of the indigenous people.Photo: STAR
Indigenous people formed a human chain yesterday in the town demanding restoration of constitution of 1972 and constitutional rights of indigenous people. The human chain followed a discussion at the same venue. The speakers reiterated the demand for a separate land commission to protect rights of the community living in plan lands. They said the indigenous people are still victims of discrimination in different fields due to government indifference to their causes. They are always lagging behind as they are being deprived of their rights in all sectors, they said. The speakers also called to establish a separate ministry for indigenous people to deal with their problems. Indigenous people are becoming landless as criminals and local influential people with the help of a section of officials are grabbing their lands, they pointed out. Urging the government to save the indigenous people from the land grabbers, they said all fake documents made to occupy their land should be declared illegal. They demanded allocation khas land to the landless indigenous people for their survival. Calling for withdrawal of all false cases against the indigenous people, they said the indigenous community is still not getting facilities like others in the fields of education and job. The speakers also demanded mother tongue-based primary education for their children and the community's quota in higher education and government service. They said the indigenous people played a significant role during the liberation war in 1971 but they are yet to be given constitutional rights. Demanding restoration of '72 constitution they said the people of the country including indigenous people joined the Liberation War to establish a secular society. But even after 39 years of independence it is yet to be achieved, they lamented. Indigenous people in Rangamati also organised a human chain in the town yesterday demanding restoration of '72 constitution and constitutional recognition to the rights of the community, reports our correspondent. Hundreds of ethnic people from different far-flung areas with banners and festoons joined in the programme followed by a rally. Speakers at the rally said the indigenous people have been playing important role in national level since long but they are still deprived of their rights. Congratulating the current government for move to restore the '72 constitution, they said the opportunity now has come for providing constitutional recognition to the indigenous people.
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