Staff Correspondent

Indigenous people are increasingly leaving the country to escape political, social and economic repression. They are in a constant struggle for the recognition of their identities and rights to ancestral land, speakers yesterday said at a programme in the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Center.

To mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples tomorrow (August 9), a policy dialogue on "Implementation of Bangladesh Indigenous Rights Act" was organised by Research and Development Collective (RDC) in association with IP Caucus, United Nations Development Programme and Swedish International Development Authority.

Members of the parliamentary caucus mentioned that the Khasi and Marma communities are particularly repressed, and are

more likely to migrate to cities and neighbouring countries.

Lawmaker Nazmul Haque Pradhan, general secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, said that most indigenous people live close to nature and their livelihoods depend on it. Deforestation is robbing them of the means to live a decent life and forcing them to leave their homes, he added.

Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, said indigenous communities often find themselves entangled in legal battles over land disputes and in clashes over tree felling.

Political repression makes the situation worse for them to survive on their own land, he added.

Prof Mesbah Kamal, a technocrat member and coordinator of the Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Peoples, said that

indigenous people have become extremely marginalised.

They have a lack of resources, means of income and education, he said, adding that their rehabilitation is necessary.

In the absence of legal protection of the indigenous community, the RDC and parliamentary caucus jointly drafted the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act to ensure their security and rights. However, the bill has not yet been presented in the national parliament sessions.

Lawmaker Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said consistency is needed to pursue the bill in the parliament.

There should be a movement to ensure the rights of indigenous communities in Chittagong Hill Tracts, said KS Mong, a member of CHT Regional Council.