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Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh

Sanjeeb Drong
January 23, 2010

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Who are indigenous in Bangladesh

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 Who are indigenous in Bangladesh
 11 peoples in Chittagong Hill

Tracts

 34 (approx) peoples in the Plains

 45 indigenous communities; Total

population 3 million
(They speak more than 30 languages, According to
Government
census 1991- tribal populations 29 and "Others",
and Number of population 1,205,978)

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 Major issues and challenges of indigenous peoples in
Bangladesh
 Non-recognition of Indigenous
people’s rights, identity, culture and
existence in the Constitution
 Social, political and economic
exclusion
 Fear and insecurity
 Militarization in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts
 Loss of cultural identity, and social
oppression
 Negative impact of mainstream
development efforts

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 Major issues and challenges of indigenous peoples in
Bangladesh
 No consultations with indigenous
communities or organizations
 Land-grabbing, leading to
livelihood displacement among
the indigenous peoples
 Losing their own heritage, which
threaten their sustainability
 Slowly and steadily losing their
history, language, culture,
customs, knowledge and music
 No influence at national decisions

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 Major issues and challenges of indigenous peoples in
Bangladesh
 Often unable to protect
themselves against social,
political and economic injustices
 Face a real threat in exercising
their basic rights and surviving as
communities
 Lack of representation at
government level
 Slowly but steadily resulting in
their marginalization

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 Land Loss
 Kaptai dam in CHT,
forceful eviction of
100,000 indigenous
jumma people
 National parks, Eco-
parks, social forestry etc.
 Direct attack and
communal riots
 Population transfer and
forceful migration

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 CHT Peace Accord 1997
 No implementation of majors
commitments
 Continues land grabbing and
violation of human rights
 Population transfer continues
to make indigenous jumma
peoples
 Non functioning of CHT land
commission

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Recommendations
 Constitutional recognition
 Recognizing the land rights,
rights to forest and natural
resources
 Formation of land commission
and return of dispossessed
lands
 Special measures for
economic, social and cultural
development

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 Recommendations
 Right to learn in mother tongue
 Reservation seats in the local
government, district councils and
parliament
 Stop anti-people Eco-parks and social
forestry projects
 Stop militarization in the CHT and
implementation of CHT Accord
 Promotion of cultural diversity

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Recommendation
 Implementation of the CHT
Peace Accord

 Recognition and endorsement of

the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples

 Implementation of the ILO

Convention No. 107 for
Indigenous and Tribal
Populations (ratified in 1972)
and ratification of ILO
Convention No. 169

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Some Hopeful Trends
 Indigenous voices heard at
national level
 Majority community, NGOs
and civil society people are
becoming aware
 Media is positive…?
 Indigenous peoples and
organizations are becoming
united

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THANK YOU 14