Civil society leaders demanded formation of a land commission for indigenous people living in the plane land.
They made the demand on Saturday at a seminar organized by Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) at the National Press Club in the city.
“The main problem of the indigenous people living in the plane is that the state, the administration and the people do not have a clear idea about them. Therefore, formation of a separate indigenous land commission for them is very essential,” said journalist and researcher Syed Abul Maksud.
Information Commissioner Prof Dr. Sadeka Halim, Dhaka University History Professor Dr. Mesbah Kamal and Adibashi Forum General Secretary Sanjib Drong also took part in the discussion while researcher Dr. Abul Hossen presented a research paper at the seminar. ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda was in the chair. Syed Abul Maksud said besides establishing rights on land, awareness would have to be created about the indigenous people living on the plane.
Prof. Mesbah Kamal demanded enacting a law stopping the sale of indigenous people’s land to the non-indigenous people. Prof. Sadeka Halim suggested the indigenous people to minimize divisions and differences among themselves and work with unity to establish their rights.
