CCD Activities:

Preserved Seat in Parliament for the Indigenous People Demanded

Naogaon, November 25:
Preserved constituencies for the indigenous people in national parliament has been demanded for the socio-economic development and for establishing basic rights of them.
It was opined in the dialogue on Role of Journalists in Raising Indigenous People’s Voice held at the District Council Conference Room in Naogaon on Friday. With the support of WACC, mass communication oriented development organization CCD Bangladesh organized this dialogue. Speakers also said, though there is a universal declaration of ensuring equal rights and facilities in the constitution of Bangladesh for all the citizens of the country irrespective of caste, color and religion, the indigenous people are most deprived and unprivileged in the country. They are becoming prey to negligence and deprivation and their human rights are being violated frequently everywhere.
Indigenous leaders with much anguish said, different political parties are giving words to preserve human rights and facilities for the indigenous people during the national election. Many parties are coming to power, but they are doing nothing for the welfare of the indigenous community. To change this flattery and sorrowful situation, the indigenous leaders strongly demanded keep certain constituencies for them to raise their voice and rights of the indigenous community.
The problems and potential of the indigenous people living in Naogaon in respect to their economy, education, culture, politics and environment and the role of journalists to uphold these issues were chalked out in the dialogue.
Assistant Professor of Mass Communication Department of Rajshahi University Dulal Chandra Biswas facilitated the dialogue. Director of CCD Bangladesh G M Mourtoza, District Coordinator in Naogaon Sadequl Islam and Training Officer Swaran Sarker presented welcome address. Representatives of local and national newspapers and delegates from indigenous communities and NGOs working for the welfare of the indigenous people actively took part in the dialogue.

First Bangladeshi Website for Indigenous people Launched
CCD Bangladesh is happy to announce that the very first Bangladeshi website for indigenous people Indigenous Voice has been launched recently. The main purpose of this web site is to conduct advocacy and campaign for the development, empowerment and human rights of the indigenous people of Bangladesh.

A huge number of stories, photographs and write-up about the indigenous knowledge, art, culture, traditional practices, health, education, socio-economic condition and their interest related issues have been published, You are welcome to visit the new site.
 

News Article:

Council of Adibasi Parishad held in Thakurgaon

Published in the Daily Samakal, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 26 November:

By Thakurgaon Correspondent: A council of National Adibasi Parishad, Thakurgaon Sadar Upazilla was held at Gobindanagar Govt. Primary School on Saturday.
The meeting was inaugurated by the District General Secretary of CPB, Journalist Akhter Hossen Raja. District General Secretary of Worker’s Party Professor Yeasin Ali attended the council as chief guest. Among others, educationist Binod Chandra Barman, Advisor of Adibasi Parishad Shamsujjoha Bablu, indigenous leader Surya Murmu, Joy Chintus Kujur, Babul Tigga, Nayami Toppo, Freedom Fighter China Urao, Maria Gorethi Khakha, Bajen Hasda spoke on the occasion while Deben Mardi was on the chair.

[Translated by Md. Anisul Ashekeen, Information & Documentation Officer, CCD Bangladesh]

Views Exchange held on Rights of Adibasi Children

Published in the Daily Sonali Sangbad, Rajshahi, Bangladesh on 24th November:

With the view to ensuring the rights of Adibasi children a discussion meeting was held at Aihai Rahi High School at Godagarhi in Rajshahi on 23 November. Adibasi Unnayan Sangstha (AUS) organised the meeting.
Chairman of Godagarhi Union Parishad Jalal Uddin attended the meeting as chief guest. Headmaster of Aihai Rahi High School Md Belal Uddin, Assistant Teacher Mst Sazeda Khatun, Executive Director of AUS Bhagabat Tudu were special guests while President of Godagarhi Thana Pargana Parishad Biswanath Tudu was on the chair.
Headmasters and teachers of different educational institutions, UP members, indigenous leaders and guardians of Godagarhi Union participated in the open discussion of the meeting. Different suggestions derived from a survey to ensure the rights of Adibasi children were presented in the meeting.

[Translated by Md. Anisul Ashekeen, Information & Documentation Officer, CCD Bangladesh]

Santu Larma discusses politics with Hasina

Published in the Daily Financial Express, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 19th November:

Chittagong Hill Tracts leader Santu Larma said Saturday a congenial atmosphere for a credible election does not exist in the hills region, reports bdnews24.com.
The former rebel leader's comment came at a meeting with Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina at her Sudha Sadan home.
"I told her there is no congenial atmosphere to hold a credible election in the hill tracts," Larma told reporters after emerging from the meeting.
He said they focused on the present political crisis during the hour-long meeting.
Larma, chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, said many fake voters have been enrolled in the region.
Three hill districts - Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban - constitute the region that has witnessed more than a decade of insurgency before a peace deal in 1997.
Larma, who also heads the regional political entity Jana Sanghati Samity, said he favoured removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz to end the political crisis.

[Read online at http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=11/19/2006&section_id=2&newsid=44131&spcl=no]

Training imparted to indigenous women

Published in the Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 07th November:

Weaving training is being imparted to female members of Tipra community near Lawachara National Park, says a press release.The Forest Department organised the training programme under its Nishorgo Programme. The training was aimed at improving livelihood options for women.

Nishorgo Support Project is developing alternative income generation opportunities for the forest dependant poor to reduce pressure from the Protected Forest Areas.
The skill development training will create income generation opportunities for to the indigenous women. This will help conserve the two parks where critically endangered Hoolock Gibbons reside.

Under the programme, a 30 day-training are being imparted to the Tipra women from 63 households at Dolubari Village of Lawachara National Park.

The training will continue till end November this year. In the first phase of the programme, 8 women from the surrounding Tipra village received the training in Satchari Natioanl Park.

In the second phase, eight other women are still undergoing training. wo local women who are expert in designing, is providing the training. Training is being imparted to the women at a temporary room near Lawachara and Satchari National Park. Thread and other materials are being provided to the trainees during the course by the Nishorgo Support Project.

[Read online at: http://thedailystar.net/2006/11/07/d61107070691.htm]

Opinion:

[The editor or CCD Bangladesh is not responsible for the opinion expressed]

Indigenous peoples and minorities at receiving end

Published in the Daily Samakal, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 26 November:

By Prajnalankar Bhikkhu : After the 11/9, the world, the West in particular, reestablished, of course not officially, an inner link between Islam and international terrorism. An international coalition led by the USA was formed to fight back the menace. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan happened to be the first target of the coalition. A few states with the Muslim majority population have been warned for harboring and sponsoring terrorism. Many international institutes and organizations related to Islamic terrorist groups, such as Taliban and Al-Qaeda, have been blacklisted. Their assets were frozen.
At this very juncture of the world situation, Bangladesh policy-makers started identifying their country as an "Islamic democracy". What is its significance? Through this theo-political language they wanted to convey two messages to the world community, the West and donor countries and international aid agencies in particular.
Message No. 1: That unlike the Talebanized Afghanistan, Bangladesh is not a "terrorist state"; it practices democracy although the majority of its populations are Muslims. So the West should not blacklist Bangladesh as a "terrorist state" or a "state harboring and sponsoring terrorism"..

[Read the full story at http://www.theindependent-bd.com/archive.details.php?nd=2006-11-24&nid=19109]