THE UN-designated international indigenous peoples' day was observed with great
fervour on Friday in Bangladesh. A colourful cross-section of aborigine communities
performed to the wonderful rhythm of their culture at a big rally in Dhaka that
Prof Sirajul Islam inaugurated. The presence of Dr. Kamal Hossain, Santu Larma,
Mani Swapan Dewan and Raja Dubashish Rao was as appropriate as that of UNDP
resident chief Jorgen Lissner and Danish Embassy's charge 'd affaires Ove Larason
was inspiring.
The festivities marking the montage of cultural functions brought out the essence of their rich heritage and self-identity which are a pride of our national possessions. The UN, for its part, only recently brought together representatives of indigenous peoples from all over the globe under its canopy to listen to their concerns for self-development in view of their being sidelined in their national societies. Some of the aborigine tribes going extinct has left human civilisation that much poorer, the organisers of the global conference felt and that's why they wanted to protect the aborigines from atrophy.
This year's theme has been devoted to recognising the ancestral land rights
of the indigenous people. As well as having such people in our hilly region
we have them on the plain-land. There must be strong safeguards against encroachment
on their land and dispossessing them of their hearths and homes.
The Bangladeshi perspective naturally came under discussion with a focus around
non-implementation of the CHT peace accord for the most part. It is believed
that there has been an under-enumeration of the indigenous population. As it
is, the census which put their total number at 12 lakh five thousand nine hundred
and seventy-eight dated back to 1991. It needs to be updated to enhance their
self-esteem as well as to arrive at the right kind of basis so as to provide
them with all the developmental facilities they so richly deserve. We would
like to see pro-active policies for their all-round advancement in the society
based on full respect shown to their rights and cultural sensibilities. The
ultimate test of civilised conduct lies in how the majority behaves with the
minority in a society.