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153rd Anniversary of Santal Revolution

'Establish secular, democratic govt for indigenous people’s rights’

Staff Correspondent
Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Regional Council Chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Shantu Larma yesterday said a secular, democratic and progressive government is a must to ensure the rights of the indigenous people as well as the students.
He said, "Unless we can form a secular, democratic and progressive government, we will not be able to solve the problems of the indigenous people as well as those of the tribal students."
Speaking as the guest of honour, the tribal leader said this at the inaugural function for the celebration of the 153rd anniversary of 'Santal Revolution' and a seminar on 'Indigenous Students and Problems in Higher Education' at the Cirdap auditorium in the city with Prof Mesbah Kamal of History Department at Dhaka University (DU) in the chair.
The programme was organised by Bangladesh Movement for Rights of Indigenous People and AcUQO^idbangladesh., :L j^L j s ;
Shantu Larma called on the .
indigenous students for a concerted struggle to form a secular, democratic and progressive government and establish their rights, adding that if the political repression on them is not over, the rights of education of indigenous people will not be established.
“The indigenous students should establish their rights through a massive struggle and they should continue it in order to form a secular, democratic and progressive government in the country,” he said.
He said, "In the past 37 years, we did not get any pro-people government and the repression on indigenous people has thus increased The tribal students are frequently losing their rights to education.”
Shantu Larma said, “We were not poor, we were made poor and poverty were imposed on us through repression. Now poverty is one of the obstacles to higher education of the indigenous students."
Prof Dalim Chandra Barman of Peace and Conflict Department at .;iQU said, unless the .political, eco-,.nornje and social repression on
indigenous people is removed, their rights of education cannot be established.
Eminent journalist Syed Abul Moksud said education is one of the fundamental human rights. The indigenous people should be given the rights as well as the students must get proper facilities to pursue higher education.
Prof Mesbah Kamal said the indigenous students must be given enough opportunity in higher education.
Sohel Hajong and Poly Tripura, two indigenous students in written speech, said the indigenous students should be allowed more quotas in universities and colleges, more chance in getting scholarships at home and abroad, adding that primary education for the indigenous children should be given in their mother language.
Teacher of Bharateshwari Homes Paichanu Marma, American International University of Bangladesh Lecturer Baredra Lal Tripura and researcher Rajmoni Waheng Bom also spoke at the seminar.