Hundreds of Adivasis participating in a two-day long march demanding a law and a national commission on indigenous affairs reached Rajshahi yesterday.
The marchers headed for Rajshahi from Chapainawabganj on Tuesday morning.
They pressed for a four-point demand, which also includes formation of a land commission for plain land Adivasis, inclusion of all indigenous communities left out from
government records, and justice to atrocities on Adivasis across the country.
The long march was organised by Jatiya Adivasi Parishad (JAP). The parishad held a huge rally at Kakonhat after the marchers reached there yesterday evening.
On the occasion, JAP leaders handed over a memorandum to Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Abdul Mannan, saying that some eight lakh Adivasis of over 22 tribes reside
in the eight districts of Rajshahi division and almost all of them are, directly or indirectly, victims of atrocities by local land grabbers.
Due to a lack of laws and separate authorities to protect their rights, they face different forms of repression including rape, eviction, and arson, they said.
The rally was attended, among others, by Rajshahi Deputy Inspector General Siddikur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hannan, Superintendent of Police M Towfique
Mahbub Chowdhury, JAP General Secretary Sabin Chandra Munda, Presidium Member Anil Marandi, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity Member Nitol Chakma, and Gono
Shilpi Sangstha General Secretary Moinuddin Chisti.
JAP President Rabindranath Soren chaired the programme.
-With The Daily Star input
