Aug 12, 2011

Chittagong Hill Tracts: Refusal of Indigenous Recognition “Against the Spirit of the War of Liberation”


Centre-left and indigenous political parties address indigenous recognition and CHT Peace Accord.

Below is an article published by The Daily Star:

Leaders of some indigenous and left-leaning political parties demanded amendment to the constitution to recognise indigenous people.

Refusing to recognise ethnic entities apart from Bangalees goes against the spirit of the War of Liberation, they said.

The leaders were speaking at a meeting between Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) at CPB's central office in the city on Wednesday, says a press release.

PCJSS President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Shantu Larma, and CPB President Manjurul Ahsan Khan attended the meeting.

They also expressed extreme dissatisfaction for terming the indigenous people as “Bangalees” and for not protecting their rights.

They criticised the government for not taking effective measures to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Accord, saying it is a clear violation of the government's promise.

The government's decision to keep Islam as the state religion will beef up fundamentalism and communalism in the country, they added.

They also discussed other issues like price hike of essential commodities, power crisis, repression on women, corruption and illegal encroachment on lands and wetlands.