Indigenous people call off long march programme
Ethnic minority people gather at Nachole bus stand in Chapainawabganj district as preparation to take part in a programme yesterday demanding enactment of a law to protect indigenous people's rights and formation of a national commission for indigenous affairs. Photo: STAR
Jatiya Advasi Parishad, a platform for the indigenous people, yesterday suspended their long march programme towards Rajshahi from Nachole as the divisional commissioner assured the organisers of discussing their demands with the higher authorities soon. Leaders of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad earlier submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister through the Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi to press home their four-point demand including enactment of a law on indigenous people's rights. Their other demands are formation of a national commission for indigenous affairs, an independent land commission for the indigenous people living in plain lands and inclusion of all indigenous communities in government records. Rabindranath Soren, president of Jatiya Adivasi Parishad of central committee said, Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Abdul Mannan assured them that within the next three months he would discuss the demands with higher authorities for necessary action. After a fruitful discussion for two hours with the authorities, the indigenous leaders suspended their previously declared long march programme. Jatiya Advasi Parishad of Friday declared the two-day long march programme on October 2 at a press conference at Nawabganj Club in the town. Earlier, several hundred indigenous people including women from different areas yesterday gathered at Nachole bus stand for the long march. They also brought out a procession shouting slogans in favour of their demands.
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