RAJSHAHI, March 25, 2019 (BSS) – Speakers here stressed on ensuring
social justice and development of living and livelihood conditions of ethnic
minority communities in the country’s northwest region.
Time has come to free the ethnic people from their deprivation of land
rights, food, healthcare, education and cultural facilities, so it is
important to ensure their fundamental rights.
The observation came at a view-sharing meeting with all stakes titled
“Effective Law Amendment to protect Land Rights of Ethnic Minority People in
Plains” at Cookie Jar Restaurant in the city yesterday.
Rajshahi unit of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
organized the meeting. More than 50 people comprising academics, professional
leaders, development activists, volunteers, students and all other
stakeholders including ethnic minority representatives joined the meeting.
Convener of Indigenous Affairs Parliamentary Caucus Fazley Hossain
Badsha, MP, addressed the meeting as chief guest with President of BLAST
Advocate Sunirmal Shaha in the chair.
Retired Justice of Appellate Division and BLAST Chief Legal Adviser
Nizamul Haque spoke on the occasion as focal person while its Adviser
(Advocacy and Capacity Building) Advocate Tazul Islam presented a concept
paper on the issue.
President of Rajshahi Advocate Bar Association Lokeman Ali and its
General Secretary Ekramul Haque, BLAST local unit adviser Advocate Abdus
Samad and its coordinator Advocate Samina Begum also spoke.
Lawmaker Badsha said mainstream people’s support is vital for
protection of rights of the indigenous people. Human rights movement will not
succeed unless fundamental needs of the poor and ethnic groups are addressed
first, he added.
He called on the concern authority to come up with immediate steps to
prevent the encroachment on the lands of the indigenous people.
Justice Nizamul Haque said the mainstream people should protect the
rights of the minority groups and there should be a harmony between the
mainstream people and the minority ethnic groups.