Published: 04:00 AM, 15 November 2018
Support needed to protect ethnic people's rights
Speakers at a workshop in Rajshahi on Wednesday said necessary support from mainstream people is needed to protect the rights of the ethnic people. Human rights movement will not succeed unless fundamental needs of the poor and ethnic groups are addressed first. Ensuring legitimate rights to the ethnic minority people can be the vital means of achieving the sustainable development goals, they added.
The speakers came up with the observation while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day 'training workshop for community leaders and indigenous authorities on monitoring of public policies' at DASCOH training hall in Rajshahi city. Kapaeeng Foundation organized the workshop in association with its program of implementation of making the SDGs work for peoples under indigenous navigator initiative in Bangladesh. European Union and International Labour Organization supported the training.
A long-term plan to solve the existing problems of the region's ethnic community was highly focused in the discussion for their self-reliance and peaceful existence as the conventional development programs and approaches yield less desired results for the disadvantaged communities. Empowerment of the disadvantaged communities for ensuring social justice of the ethnic minorities is very vital for elevation of their living and livelihood conditions alongside their mainstreaming. Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, attended and addressed the session as chief guest with president of Jatiya Adibashi Parishad Rabindra Nath Saren in the chair.
Manager of Kapaeeng Foundation Hiran Mitra Chakma and its Programme Coordinator Shohel Chandra Hajang and Executive Director of Anagrasar Samaj Unnayan Sangstha Raj Kumar Shaon also spoke in the program. Lawmaker Badsha said the mainstream people should protect the rights of the minority groups and that there should be a harmony between the mainstream people and the minority ethnic groups. He urged the government to come up with immediate plans to prevent the encroachment on the lands of the indigenous people. Around 50 people comprising development activists, students and community leaders are taking part in the workshop.
--- Obaidul Islam Robi, Rajshahi
