Societal Events Report :The International Day of the World Indigenous People was celebrated throughout the country with various programmes to mark the day.This year’s theme for the day was ‘Bridging the gap: implementing the rights of indigenous peoples.’Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Mizanur Rahman inaugurated the celebrations at Central Shaheed Minar in the city. Chairman of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, also President of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique also spoke at the programme. The Minister for Civil Aviation Rashed Khan Menon MP attended the function as the chief guest. Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Heather Cruden, Danish Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjær, UNDP Bangladesh Country Director Pauline Tamesis, President of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Mujahidul Islam Selim, actor Mamunur Rashid, Executive Director of Manusher Jonnyo Foundation Shaheen Anam, among others, also spoke at the function. Therefore, a roundtable was organised in the city on the eve of the day. Advocate Sultana Kamal, Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra, spoke in the meeting. Ain O Salish Kendra, Bangladeshi Adivasi Forum and 11 other non-government organisations jointly arranged the roundtable titled ‘Stopping Eviction of Adivasis from Their Lands and Protection of Their Human Rights: The Role of the State.’ n
