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Protect rights of ethnic people

Speakers urge media

Metro Desk
Indigenous community leaders, social activists, government officials and journalists yesterday stressed the need for proactive role of the media to protect the rights of ethnic communities through projecting their sufferings
Speaking at a roundtable, they said the media could be used as a powerful tool of disseminating information about the ethnic groups and drawing attention of the policymakers to resolve their ^problems.
The roundtable titled Bridging the gap between media and ethnic communities' was organised by Management and Resources Development Ininative (MRD1) at Madhupur inTangail.
The roundtable was held under a project titled Bridging Media and Ethnicity which was supported by the Delegation of the European
Commission to Bangladesh.
The main objective of the roundtable was to reduce the gap between the media and GO/NGOs/CBOs working for ethnic rights, says a press release.
Indigenous leaders told the roundtable that most of the ethnic issues are ignored in the local and national media, and ethnic voices are almost absent.
Media portray some stereotyped images of ethnic life and highlight only some cultural activities and incidents, theyadded.
On the other hand, journalists said they need authentic sources of information while reporting on major ethnic issues, but very few people dare to provide information.
For in-depth reporting on ethnic issues, they sought cooperation from thecommunitypeople.
1\vo keynote papers were presented at the roundtable by Runa
Laila, assistant professor o (Women and Gender Studies at Dhaka University, and journalist Qurratul-Ain-Thhmina.
The indigenous people are deprived of adequate media coverage, said Tahmina, adding, issues relating to their rights and sufferings are not adequately reflected in die media.
She suggested that journalists should concentrate on objective and in-depth reporting on the ethnic communities.
Runa highlighted the history and lifestyle of indigenous people.
She described how the indigenous people are deprived of their rights and how other people treat them.
Speaking as chief guest at the roundtable, Dr MA Parvez Rahim, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Madhupur, stressed the need for objective reporting in media.
"Media should not write any-
thing which can affect the long tradition of peace and harmony between the plain land people and the indigenous community,” he added.
The UNO said more interactions between the media people and indigenous community would help reducing communication gap.
Hasibur Rahman, executive director of MRDI. said indigenous people have been suffering foi decades.
Although HR groups are trying to address ethnic issues, still there is a lot to do, he added.
He stressed that the educated ethnic youths should come forward and write their own issues in the media.
The roundtable, moderated In Special Correspondent of the Financial Express Syed Ishtiaque Reza, was attended by about 20 indigenous community leaders, GO/NGO officials and journalists.