Signature campaign for constitutional rights
People sign on a large banner in Thakurgaon town yesterday as Jatiya Adivasi Parishad arranges a month-long mass signature campaign in support of the constitutional recognition of the indigenous people.Photo: STAR
Indigenous people in two northern districts yesterday formed human chains, held rallies and started signature campaign demanding their constitutional rights. Indigenous people of Chapainawabganj staged their programmes in the town, reports our correspondent. Jatiya Adibasi Parishad organised the programmes in front of local press club. Several hundred indigenous people of the district including women took part in the human chain and rally. Speakers at the rally said that the indigenous communities belong to this soil like the other mainstream people. So, all the small communities of both hills and plain lands should be given due recognition. The speakers underlined the need for a concerted efforts to bring the indigenous people to the mainstream of society for their substantial welfare and protection from repression. They called upon the government to give constitutional recognition to them and ensure their rights to their mother tongue, culture and land. Abdul Odud, lawmaker of Chapainawabganj Sadar constituency inaugurated the mass signature collection programme. Indigenous leaders said they will organise a one-kilometer-long human chain in front of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on November 28 and submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding their constitutional rights. In Thakurgaon, a mass signature campaign was held at Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner's Office premises demanding constitutional rights of indigenous people. Jatiya Adivasi Parishad Thakurgaon unit organised the programme as part of month-long-signature collection programme, reports our correspondent. People from all walks of life and different professionals gave signatures expressing solidarity with the demand. Apart from the programme a discussion was held at the same venue. Demanding constitutional rights of indigenous people, the speakers said the communities are victims of discrimination in different fields as the government did not pay proper attention to their causes. They are always lagging behind as they are being deprived of their rights in all sectors, they said. The speakers also demanded immediate formation of a separate land commission to protect their rights on the plain lands. They also called to establish a separate ministry for indigenous people to deal with their problems. The speakers also demanded mother tongue-based primary education for their children and the community's quota in higher education and government service. Earlier, indigenous people brought out a procession that paraded different streets in the town.
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