National minorities want recognition as ‘indigenous’

National minorities in the Rajshahi city on Friday formed a human chain and held a rally demanding constitutional recognition as 'indigenous people'.

Several centre-left parties, rights organisations, ethnic minority groups and academicians joined the demonstrations organised by Adibasi Chhatra Parishad at Saheb Bazar Zero Point in the city at 12 noon.

The participants protested at the 15th amendment to the constitution that rejected the longstanding demand of national minorities to be recognised as 'indigenous'.

The speakers at the rally urged the government to insert the word 'indigenous' instead of 'ethnic' in the constitution or to face an all-out movement.

The left leaders complained that the present government was playing the dual role as it retained Islam as the state religion and also wanted to build a secular country.

They also said Awami League did not keep its pledges though the party, before the last parliamentary election, recognised the ethnic minorities as 'indigenous' in their electoral manifesto.

Adibasi Chhatra Parishad Rajshahi district in-charge Suvash Chandra Hembrom presided over the rally that was conducted by the Parishad's organising secretary Nabadip Lakra.

Rajshahi University Teachers-Students Cultural Centre director Sujit Sarker, Workers Party Rajshahi city unit secretary Liakat Ali Liku, Communist Party city unit president Abul Kalam Azad, National Awami Party district unit secretary Mustafizur Rahman Khan, Mahila Parishad district secretary Kalpana Ray, local daily editor Fazlul Haque, Rajshahi Rakkah Sangram Parishad organising secretary Debashish Pramanik, Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree city unit president Matiur Rahman, Adibashi Chhatra Parishad central committee president Harendranath Sing, general secretary Manik Saren, among others, also spoke on the programme.

Source : New Age