By Rita Bhowmick (Dhaka Bureau)
Land, traditional rights, and unique cultural heritage form the cornerstone of existence for indigenous communities. However, despite policy promises, a lack of effective implementation has left these populations marginalized for decades. To dismantle these inequities, civil society leaders, human rights activists, and indigenous representatives in Dhaka have called for constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples, the protection of their land rights, and the immediate activation of land commissions for both the CHT (Chittagong Hill Tracts) and plainland communities.
These demands were highlighted during a national seminar titled ‘Indigenous Peoples: Respect for Life, Land Rights, and Culture’, held on Thursday (August 6) at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital, marking International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
The event was jointly organized by 17 human rights and civil society organizations, led by the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) and the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum. This year’s global theme for the day is ‘Respecting Indigenous Midwives: Safety and Well-being in Life.’
Urgent Appeal for Customary Land Rights and Enforcement of ‘Section 97’
Speakers at the seminar emphasized that without legal recognition of customary land rights, indigenous communities face constant threats of eviction and land loss.
They called for the strict implementation of Section 97 of the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950- a clause designed to protect the lands of plainland indigenous groups- demanding that Additional District Commissioners (Revenue) act suo motu (on their own initiative) to prevent illegal land transfers.
Additionally, speakers urged immediate steps to reactivate the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission to settle more than 27,000 pending applications.
‘Land is the absolute foundation of indigenous culture, customs, and social existence. Halting the visible trend of landlessness, legally recognizing customary land rights, and establishing an independent land commission for plainland indigenous peoples are urgent imperatives’- Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
Constitutional Recognition and Terminology Reform
Presenting the keynote paper, human rights activist Ilira Dewan stressed the need to secure proper identity rights for indigenous peoples in the national constitution. She urged replacing terms like ‘sub-tribe’ or ‘ethnic group’ in Article 23A of the Constitution with the globally accepted and locally preferred Bengali term for ‘Indigenous People’.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), stated- ‘Indigenous peoples must be granted constitutional recognition without controversy. They need to remain united in claiming their rights so that vested interests cannot divide them. Furthermore, the government should immediately form and activate a Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Affairs.’
Honoring Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Lifestyles
Aligning with the international theme, panel members called for official state recognition of the traditional healthcare knowledge of indigenous women and midwives. To reduce maternal and child mortality in remote regions, they urged targeted training programs for traditional birth attendants alongside special healthcare delivery systems.
Member of Parliament Adv. Madhabi Marma dispelled misconceptions surrounding traditional ‘Jhum’ (slash-and-burn) cultivation, arguing that eco-friendly Jhum farming can be modernized for sustainability. Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Anna Minz highlighted positive commitments in government election manifestos and national budgets, calling for their swift realization.
Unplanned Development and Ecological Crises
Representatives from both the plains and the hills expressed grave concern over the absence of a sustainable eco-tourism policy and the rise of unplanned development in indigenous areas. They noted that while flooding was historically rare in the hill regions, unplanned infrastructure projects caused severe flooding across vast areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts this year. Speakers demanded that any development project must ensure the prior consent and representation of local indigenous communities.
Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum, remarked that the government’s vision of an inclusive, non-discriminatory ‘rainbow nation’ cannot be realized while excluding indigenous peoples.
Pressenza considers the struggle to protect the land rights and social existence of indigenous peoples to be a crucial step toward creating a more equitable and humane world.
Rita Bhowmick: Staff Correspondent, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
