RAJSHAHI, July 1, 2018 (BSS) – Ensuring social justice and development of
living and livelihood conditions of ethnically minority communities in the
country’s northwest region has become indispensable for their peaceful
existence.
The ethnic people were always deprived of land rights, food, healthcare,
education and cultural facilities, so it is important that the government
should ensure their fundamental rights besides full-filling other requisite
demands.
Development activists and academics made these observations while
addressing a post-rally discussion marking the 163rd Santal Hul Revolution
Day at Shilpakala Academy Auditorium in the city yesterday. More than 500
ethnic minority people joined the programme.
Rajshahi Divisional Ethnic Minority Cultural Academy organized the
programme. Various development and voluntary organizations including
Christian Mission Hospital, BLAST, World Vision Bangladesh, Ashrai, CCBVO and
ACD joined the programme.
Chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Shalahuddin, the meeting was
addressed, among others, by Deputy Commissioner SM Abdul Kader,
Superintendent of Police Md Shahidullah and President of Adibashi Mukti
Morcha Jogendra Nath Saren.
Calling for freeing the ethnic communities from the vicious cycle of
poverty coupled with making them fit for all the nation- building activities
the speakers demanded separate land commission for the plain land ethnic
communities to establish their rights on land.
Stressing the need for protecting the rights of the ethnic minority people,
they said importance should be given on protecting the underprivileged people
from all sort of deceptions.
The speakers underscored the need for establishing social justice towards
the plain land ethnic communities through removing all sorts of disparity.
They said the aboriginal people are hard working and have been playing a
vital role in increasing farm production. They stressed on removing the
disparity between the aboriginal people of hill tracts and plain lands.
In observance of the day, the academy and its development organizations
jointly brought out a colourful rally in the city which paraded the nearby
roads. Various other ethnic minority related development organizations
observed the day through various daylong programmes like rally, discussion
meeting and cultural events in the city.