Editorial
The rights of indigenous communities
We must mainstream them into development process
INTERNATIONAL Day of the World's Indigenous People was observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere yesterday. It is certainly a matter of appreciation that in recent years countries and governments around the world have grown increasingly conscious of and sensitive to the rights of indigenous people; and in fact there have been conditions where governments have tried making amends through tendering formal apologies about injustices committed against indigenous communities in the past. It is only proper that at a time when global social awareness has focused on addressing the ills that have kept some communities in a straitjacket, governments and societies should come forth spontaneously to convince indigenous people that they too have access to the opportunities that others are privy too.
The issue of addressing the problems of indigenous people holds particular relevance for Bangladesh owing to the fact that it has been home to a number of tribes or cultures since time immemorial. For ages, these indigenous peoples, among whom are Chakmas, Hajongs, Choch, Marma, Tripura, Lushai, Bom, Santal and a host of others, have inhabited this land and have lived side by side with the mainstream population. Their distinct cultures have given them a particular character and have indeed enriched the heritage of this country.
That said, there is also the fact that for quite a number of reasons indigenous people have sometimes felt aggrieved. The instance a few years ago of the authorities trying to build an eco park in a region inhabited by an indigenous community is yet too fresh in our minds to be forgotten. In the not so distant past, that is, the early 1960s, the building of a dam in the south east of the country by the then Pakistan government resulted in a huge displacement of a vast cultural group, with all the unwelcome ramifications. In free and democratic Bangladesh, it would be an anathema if the ethnic groups should face any form of discrimination whatsoever.
Fundamentally, it will be through ensuring greater opportunities and wider participation of indigenous people in national activities that we can take this country forward. In recent years, a fairly good number of people from these communities have made an entry into such professions as the armed forces, civil service and elsewhere. Yet there needs to be more emphasis on such advances being made. There are the relatively backward indigenous groups, such as the Garos, Khasias and Santals, who are in need of affirmative action in order to be part of the wider community. We are happy to note that in recent years, efforts made by academics and social groups to bring indigenous problems into focus through rallies, publication of books and research have greatly sensitized people to indigenous issues. But these efforts need to be made more substantive through a continuous process of integrating indigenous people into national developmental activity and thus mainstreaming them in the economy. Care must be exercised, though, to ensure that their distinctive heritage is not only maintained but also promoted --- because the customs and mores of these communities add colour, content and diversity to our national culture.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments