Ensure rights, form separate land commission
The indigenous people at programmes marking the 160th Santhal Hul (rebellion) Day yesterday have reiterated their demands for ensuring their constitutional rights and adequate steps for saving them from land grabbers.
Marking the day, Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP) organised a mass gathering at Dinajpur Institute premises on Tuesday to raise their voice to formulate a separate land commission for the plain land indigenous people, reports our correspondent.
The historic rebellion against the oppression of upper caste zamindars and British colonial officials in Jharkhand of India started on June 30 in 1855 under the leadership of four Murmu brothers Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand and Bhairav.
But the then British government brutally crushed the rebellion, killing the indigenous people in thousands and causing massive destruction to their villages.
Indigenous people face various types of discrimination while land grabbers are becoming more and more desperate to occupy their lands in absence of justice, said JAP president Rabindranath Soren, who presided over the rally.
At least 20 indigenous people were murdered by land grabbers and 520 people of Rangpur-Dinajpur region left Bangladesh in last 15 years as land grabbers harassed them in different ways including filing of false cases, he said.
Addressing the rally as chief guest, Prof Mizanur Rahman, chairman of National Human Rights Commission, emphasised the need for a separate land commission for the indigenous people living in plain land.
Shaheen Anam, chief executive of Manusher Janno Foundation, in her speech said the indigenous people should carry on their movement until their rights are realised.
Sanjib Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, also addressed the programme, among others.
Our Thakurgaon Correspondent adds: Indigenous people yesterday brought out a colourful procession in the town and held a discussion at the auditorium of Thakurgaon Press Club marking the 160th anniversary of the Santhal Hul.
After so many years of the sacrifice of thousands of Santals in their struggle against oppression, the ethnic minority communities are yet to get their social, economic and political rights, speakers said at the meeting.
They demanded meeting their nine-point demand including establishing constitutional rights of indigenous people, formation of a separate land commission to protect their land rights, and mother tongue-based primary education for their children.
Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Chandra Biswas attended the programme as chief guest at the programme jointly organised by Jatiya Adivasi Parishad and ESDO Premdip Project.
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