TIB Urges Fair Probe into Injustices Against Indigenous Peoples, Demands Constitutional Recognition and New Ministry

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has partnered with the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum to commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2024, with the theme of "Protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact." Other human and social rights-based organizations have also joined in the celebration.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman called for the constitutional recognition of indigenous people at a seminar titled "Responsibilities of the State and the Majority Population: Protecting Lands, Human Rights, and Ensuring the Overall Safety of Indigenous Peoples," which was held at CIRDAP in the capital on August 17, 2024. A total of 14 organizations participated in the seminar, including Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), ALRD, Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, Bangladesh Adivashi Parishad, IPDS, BLAST, Nijera Kori, BELA, Urban, Kapaeeng Foundation, CCDB, Caritas Bangladesh, Ain o Salish Kendra, and Manabadhikar Songskriti Foundation.

Speaking at the event, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that the student-led anti-discrimination movement has offered an opportunity for complete change of the state structure. It also set the path for beneficial changes in the political scene while maintaining the spirit of the constitution. The anti-discrimination movement rejects discrimination against everyone, including indigenous people. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman called on the interim administration to look into the injustices done to the indigenous population over the years, expressing support for the event's 14 demands. In order to better serve indigenous people in the plains and the hills, he also proposed renaming the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs as the Ministry of Indigenous Rights Affairs.

The 14-point demand presented at the celebration included: enacting legislation to protect indigenous people, ensuring representation of the plains indigenous community in the interim government, immediately halting land grabbing and human rights violations against indigenous people, properly implementing the CHT Accord, forming a separate land commission for plains indigenous people, implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), stopping luxurious projects on indigenous lands in the name of tourism, Eco parks, and EPZs, withdrawing all false cases against indigenous people, and recognizing the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples as a state-sponsored celebration while granting constitutional recognition to indigenous people.

Social activist Khushi Kabir chaired the event, while Dhaka University Professor Robaet Ferdous, Barrister Sara Hossain, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad President Bichitra Tirki, and ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda participated as discussants.