The Rights Of the Tribes Of Bangladesh Must Be Ensured

In a country, a relatively small number of people are identified as a small ethnic group based on their religious beliefs, skin color, language or caste.

About 15 lakh 87 thousand tribes live in 47 of the country's 64 districts and make up about one percent (1.11%) of the total population. Most of them live in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rajshahi. According to the Bureau of Statistics, there are 45 tribal communities in Bangladesh and the Chakmas are the largest in terms of population (Wikipedia).

On December 2, 1997, an agreement was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS), also known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. The implementation of the agreement put an end to almost two decades of bloody struggle between the peace forces of the three hill districts. That is why the agreement has gone down in history as a symbol of mutual peace, harmony, forgiveness and love for the peace-loving people of the world, including Bangladesh.

On the other hand, the contribution of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, is very commendable as she has completed the entire agreement except the mediating country, promised pardon to the members of the peace force and brought them back to normal life with with the utmost prudence.

According to Wikipedia, 1,180 people were killed by peacekeepers between 1980 and 1991. From the statistics it is clear how much unrest existed in the mountains before the peace treaty! But it is not the case that no violent incidents have taken place in the hills since the peace agreement. However, it is much less than before.

The mountains that were turbulent before 1997, the bloody war, extortion, murder, rape, kidnapping were a daily occurrence! The wind of peace is blowing on that hill now. The whole mountain environment is almost calm except for one or two isolated incidents.

Once upon a time, people could not walk on the mountain road in fear!  That hill has now become a tourist destination. People can now travel there day and night without hindrance. In a word, the infrastructural and social security development of the hill tribes has accelerated. They are working day and night for their own socio-economic development, forgetting discrimination and violence.

There is no room for denying the contribution of Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in taking far-sighted and timely steps to improve the lives of the remote hill tribes.

After the 1997 peace agreement, the socio-economic and political structure of the Chittagong Hill Tracts has undergone tremendous development and it is time for the tribes to take some further steps to improve the living conditions of the hill tribes and the plains of the country.

In January 2012, the Bangladesh Environmentalist Movement (BAPA) - Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN) and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.  A convention titled "Indigenous Peoples and the Environment of Sylhet" raised various demands of the tribes of the country, including Sylhet-Moulvibazar. Former Chief Justice of Bangladesh and Chief Adviser to the caretaker government Muhammad Habibur Rahman was present as the chief guest.

The meeting also highlighted the exploitation and oppression of the tribes by the Bengalis and demanded that the state take specific steps to ensure the just rights of the tribes.

The meeting feels that it is not only their responsibility to preserve the culture and nature of the tribes, but also the responsibility of the Bengalis. Their economy, way of life, culture are not only consistent with the mountains and wildlife.  With globalization comes modern economic and lifestyle changes. But special care must be taken to ensure that this evolution does not disrupt their centuries-old tradition.

The tribes of the Sylhet region were persecuted in various ways by the Bengalis.  Forcible occupation of land, illegal setting up of so-called eco-parks and implementation of various projects for deforestation; The meeting expressed frustration that the tribes are upset! The meeting also raised the issue of extreme cruelty of some tribal tea workers working in the tea garden of Sylhet. There is no permanent place for tea workers. If they are fired from the tea garden for any reason, they have to be displaced. It goes without saying that there are no necessary arrangements for the medical and education systems.

The meeting sheds light on various problems of these oppressed people in society; recognition of tribes as a separate ethnicity in the constitution of Bangladesh, implementation of various rights recommended by UN human rights organizations and international labor organizations, informing the tribes before implementing any project in the area and investigation into whether the project has adverse effects on their environment. Subject to placement of the project. To take precautionary measures regarding the establishment of industrial establishments and to take measures for the rehabilitation of the victims, including taking necessary measures to unjust cutting of trees, land grabbing, torture and cruel use of elephants by the owner; Above all, it is said to take steps that are beneficial to the tribes.

Article 23 (a) of the Constitution of Bangladesh explicitly states that the state shall take necessary steps to preserve, develop and develop the unique regional culture and heritage of different tribes, minorities, ethnic groups and communities. In order to develop Bangladesh, it is necessary to develop the tribes and socio-economically. On the other hand, for a long time, the tribes of Bangladesh have been agitating for the realization of their different rights.

The inclusion of the tribes' own language in the textbooks, taking necessary steps for language education in schools and digitization of languages are their long-standing demands. They should pay attention to these demands. Government-funded libraries can be set up at the village level and the tribes can be given the opportunity to practice their own literature.

The tribes present their culture to Bangladesh and the outside world through their varied dance-songs and rituals. If they were given the opportunity to practice music to increase the scope of these varied dance-songs, the results would not be bad. We all have a responsibility to protect their culture. Necessary steps have to be taken to develop the talents of the tribes, including making arrangements for music at the village level. The cooperation of governments and non-government organizations in this regard is highly desirable.

Tribes are not protected from land grabbers. They are being evicted from their homes, land grabbing and crop lands are being set on fire by using the influence of power at different times. On the other hand, the practice of occupying tribal lands through forged documents is prevalent in Bangladesh. On the contrary, if the tribes resort to the law, they will be subjected to various threats and oppression. Many do not dare to resort to the customary law of the country, either financially or for fear of life. On the other hand, the occupiers have used their power and legal complexities to occupy the lands of the tribes. As a result, indiscriminate eviction of tribes and the land grabbing process is still going on non-stop!

Legal action must be taken against the Raghab-Boals involved in land grabbing and eviction of the tribes. Local people's representatives and dignitaries should stand by them in this regard.

 I talked to my university friend Tushar Murmur about the social problems of the tribes. He said there are still many districts in Bangladesh where the tribes are looked down upon socially. There are some food stalls and separate pots for the tribes. He is very surprised and shocked at the same time!

Tushar asked me a question that day. If we have separate pots for our food, why keep our money with everyone's money? I could not answer his question. I have given you the responsibility to solve the problem and answer this question.

Most of the tribal students conduct their studies based on different missions and donor agencies. As a result, most children in rural areas are able to study up to primary or lower secondary level and cannot afford to go to secondary, higher secondary and higher education financially.

Due to the dire economic situation, it has become very difficult to study on one's own. As a result, many dropped out of school and started working in different companies or clothes in Dhaka. Again, many do not continue their studies due to poor results in lower-secondary and secondary examinations.
The government needs to take the necessary steps to ensure higher education for the tribes. Since most of the students are studying from primary to secondary, they are dropping out due to lack of funds. Therefore, the opportunity to study can be given by providing stipends, cash or education loans either publicly or privately. As a result, the education rate of the tribes will increase a lot and they will be able to stand tall in the bosom of society as enlightened people. On the other hand, various domestic and foreign donor agencies can also come forward to help the tribes.

Most of the hill and plain tribes depend on agriculture. Before changing their standard of living, they need to think about making changes in agriculture. The area of the three hill districts of Bangladesh is 13,295 sq km (Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs).

Jhum is cultivated on about 20,000 hectares of land every year (Wikipedia). The tribes have a soul connection with Jhum farming, which is why they also call Jhum farming a food bank. For the agrarian revolution of hill and plain tribes, agri-loans, subsidies, interest-free loans, introduction of irrigation systems, provision of fertilizers, seeds of high yielding and climate-change tolerant crops and other agri-friendly measures can be taken.

Tribes are not safe from middlemen. They are buying their agricultural products at nominal prices and selling them at very high prices in the market with the help of various methods and techniques. Interest-bearing lenders, on the other hand, lend at low interest rates, but at one point, the interest is compounded into a lot of money. As a result, it is not possible for a day laborer tribe to repay that debt. They had to sell his last piece of land to a moneylender to pay off the debt. When they failed to repay the loan, the usurers took possession of the land, cattle and other valuables. So the tribes must be protected from these middlemen and usurers.

Even today the tribes of Bangladesh have not been able to involve themselves in politics. Their participation in any election in the country, starting from the local union council, is very low. On the other hand, participating in the election and winning is a very challenging thing for them! It is very difficult for the common people of the country to accept a tribe as a people's representative! In order to improve the quality of the tribes, they should be given the opportunity to participate in politics.

The tribes of Bangladesh are mixed with the history and heritage of this country, they are the resources of Bangladesh. If Bangladesh is a flower garden, the tribes will have one flower. Just as different flowers enhance the beauty of the garden, so too the tribes of Bangladesh are multiplying the beauty of this country to the world. So the rights of the tribes must be ensured. Let the future of the tribes be bright. Let Bangladesh be filled with a classless social system and the laughter of the tribes.

Saifuddin Durud is an Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University, Dinajpur.
Imran Hossain is a Student of Hajee Mohammad Danesh science and technology University, Dinajpur.