Indigenous people's leaders strongly condemns against the discriminatory circular of Bangladesh Government




The Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh has issued a letter on 19 April 2006 to the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (MoCHTA) in ordering not to use the term 'Adivasi' (indigenous) to the official documents and to use the term 'Upazati' (tribal), which is very humiliative and discriminatory to the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh. The Foreign Ministry letter mentioned that ' … in India, China could not say adivasi of the tribal peoples. So why we will use adivasi term."

Indigenous people's leaders of Bangladesh have strongly condemned the order of the government circulated by the Foreign Ministry. "They don't have right for any decision about us for using the term and to identification ourselves," one of the top indigenous peoples leader in the country expressed his concern.

It is notable that the indigenous peoples of the country are not constitutionally recognize but the successive government has recognized and already been using the terms as indigenous peoples (Adivasi) on various official documents such as 1900 Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation Act, 1984 Income Tax Amendment, Circular of the quota for employment and PRSP.

On 20 February 2002, the Prime Minister Office used the term 'Adivasi' (Indigenous) in the policy of project programming. The Establishment Ministry of Bangladesh recognizes CHT indigenous peoples as 'Adivasi (Indigenous)' during an issuing official letter (Memo no- Rule 1, Branch 143) on 13 February 1991. The present Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Chief Opposition Leader & former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina use "Adivasi' term on her greetings message last 2003 of the Bangladesh Adivasi Forum journal "Solidarity Souvenir" on the occasion of world indigenous peoples day celebration.

Reaction of Indigenous Peoples leaders;
Barrister Raja Devasish Roy
Circle Chief, Chakma Circle, CHT and Co-chairperson, WGDD of IPs

We are indigenous not tribal with the intention of the current legal status of the country. It has to change and to bringing a separate amendment for if the term "Upazati (tribal)" want to use and it will be create more debate and negative reaction to the indigenous peoples community and society. The terms of indigenous/aboriginal/ adivasi are legally entered to the official documents, national laws and remedies. As democracy state, Bangladesh should respect the term of 'indigenous (Adivasi)' and to denying is one of disrespect the democracy. I think Foreign Ministry should think again on regarding the term.
He added that the Foreign Ministry could not have right to say to use the term of 'Upazati' as replace of Adivasi. If so then need to adaptation an amendment through the national parliament. Because Bangladesh has been ratified the ILO Convention 107, while the convention adapted for Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. The term of indigenous (Adivasi) used to the Chittagong Hill Tracts 1900 Regulation Act particularly the article 4. With the exception of this regulation for plain land indigenous peoples the 1950 State Tenancy Act recognize the term of 'aboriginal' while the term of 'indigenous (Adivasi)' make use of as the replacement and clearly specified by the article 97.
The government should respect their own identification wherever they want to introduce themselves. It is very narrowed attitude for government to grip the matter as marginalized community in the country. There is no argument to deny and debate the term using as of 'Adivasi'.
With connecting the issued letter he added that, in Philippines they use the term of 'indigenous' and partially use in Indonesia. In Nepal they use the term of 'Janajati' and India they used the term of Upazati (tribal) but they have special protection rights through national constitution as well as China but we don't have this. To comparison with other states to using the term is quite unacceptable.

He also added that, in accordance to the international human rights instruments for indigenous peoples has two important characteristics as I) a region while they are the first inhabitant nation among others, ii) and exclude from the colonial state and kingdom or the modern state forming process. The civil society and the high political leaders of the country constantly use the "indigenous (Adivasi)' term with respectively.

Moni Swapon Dewan MP
Deputy Minister, CHT Affairs

Deputy Minister added that 'last year some indigenous peoples delegates from CHT accused to the government for human rights violation to the UN Permanent Forum meeting in New York, and complain that the government not implementing CHT accord with speedy and properly". Later on the parliamentary committee of the CHT ministry looked a report on regarding the statements to the foreign ministry. The foreign ministry replied and mentioned that in CHT they have tribal peoples not indigenous peoples.

As a ruling party member, Deputy Minister of CHT Affairs Shree Moni Swapn Dewan upset this decision and looking to talk to the high official of the government. He added this circulation is against of government official documents that are previously use in officially as term.

Rupayan Dewan
Leader of PCJSS and Councilor of CHT Regional Council

The indigenous peoples political party Parbattya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) senior leader and Member of CHT Regional Council Rupayan Dewan added, "Indigenous peoples of the country identified their own identity. The government should not need to handling this matter."

The PCJSS leader and member of CHT Regional Council Rupayan Dewan strongly condemn and criticize to the government decision. He expressed that, " this is my matter and basic democracy rights as citizen what I want to be identify myself in the country. But unfortunately the government looking now to identify our identity and after few years back they will say that I will give your identification name."

Bangladesh Adivasi Forum

Bangladesh Adivasi Forum (A national Forum and organization for Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples) assumes that recently the indigenous peoples of the country are well organized and everywhere they are very aware in against the government atrocity to indigenous peoples. Forum has been protesting all kinds torture and oppression on IPs and celebrating the World Indigenous Peoples Day of 9 th August with very colorfully, while thousands and thousands indigenous peoples from different parts of the country attend and enjoy the day. Bangladesh Adivasi Forum strongly condemn to this unacceptable, disappointed and insulting decision by the government.

KAPAEENG (A human rights organization for indigenous peoples)

KAPAEENG strongly condemn the Foreign Ministry issuing letter as well as the government decision. KAPEENG assumes that it is a part of government conspiracy to destroy the indigenous peoples values and ancestral tradition. As a member of the new human rights council the government should respect the international laws and remedies as well as the domestic laws with respectively. The decision is quite discriminatory and against the basic democracy rights as the citizen of the democratic country. They also urged to the government to stop torture, oppression, extortion, eviction, land grabbing and attack on IPs and proper implementation the historical CHT accord of CHT indigenous peoples