Santu Larma for greater movement to establish ethnic people’s rights→

Staff Correspondent

Daily Sun(30-04-2011)

Jana Sanghati Samity president and Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, recalling the demand made by MN Larma 40 years ago, urged all for taking preparation to wage greater movement to establish rights, recognition and honour of the 46 ethnic communities living in the country.

Santu Larma, also the chairman of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, alleged that the government is involved in conspiracy with the rights of three million ethnic people and will never ensure their rights.

“So, we have to continue our movement to force the government to fulfil the demands of the deprived indigenous people,” Santu Larma added.

The Jana Sanghati Samity president was addressing a public meeting at Central Shaheed Minar in the city on Friday.

Demanding constitutional recognition of the ethnic people, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum organised the meeting where politicians, educationists and rights activists expressed solidarity with their demand.

“MN Larma was refused by the then government 40 years ago for demanding rights of indigenous people. He was forced to go for movement that we continued. But, indigenous people are still being deprived in the country,” Santu Larma said.

The Regional Council chairman alleged that not only the CHT people, but also plain land ethnics facing a threat of survival.

“Due to the communal mentality of consecutive governments, ethnic people are being deprived in the country. Presently we are facing an identity crisis. We have to go for greater movement,” Santu Larma added.

Recalling the contributions of ethnic people in the War of Liberation, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim urged the government to recognise the ethnic groups in the upcoming constitutional amendment to ensure their equal rights.

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Sultana Kamal demanded full implementation of CHT agreement and proclamation of the government for their constitutional recognition.

Expressing solidarity with the demands of ethnic people, Dhaka University Vice Chancellor AAMS Areefin Siddique urged the government to ensure education in their respective mother tongues.

Demanding removal of the CHT land commission chairman for his alleged misdeeds, Ganoforum presidium member Pankoj Bhattacharjee urged the rights activists to participate in the rational movements of ethnic people.

PCJSS organising secretary Saktipada Tripura said ethnic people of the country want their socio-political recognition in the constitutional amendment.

Prof Mesbah Kamal said ethnic people should given constitutional recognition to prove the country’s plurality in diversity. He also demanded conventional land rights and traditional social structure in local government for them.