Form nat'l body to protect indigenous people
Recommends JS caucus body
The technical committee of Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous People recommended forming a national commission to protect and promote the rights of the indigenous people.
Prof Mezbah Kamal, coordinator of the technical committee responsible for preparing a draft law for the indigenous people, made the recommendation at a view exchange meeting yesterday.
The caucus, in association with Research and Development Collective and Oxfam, organised the meeting on “Socio-Economic Situation and Relevance of Indigenous People's Rights Act” at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
Prof Kamal, said a seven-member national commission on indigenous people, as a primary government agency, to be made for the formulation and implementation of the policies, plans and programmes to protect and promote the interest and well being of the indigenous people.
He told The Daily Star that the technical committee has prepared and submitted the draft law to the caucus, who will now discuss over it in their forum and take opinion from different stakeholders before finalising the law.
He added that the indigenous community of the country has been traditionally deprived of their socio-economic, cultural and political rights.
Rashed Khan Menon, convener of Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous People, said there are many laws relating to the indigenous people in the country, but most of these are ineffective, thus allowing violation of the rights of the community.
“So, a specific law is needed to protect the rights of the indigenous people and the caucus has taken initiative to enact a law to ensure their rights,” said Menon, also the president of Bangladesh Workers Party, an ally of the Awami League-led grand alliance.
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