(March 21, 2012) In Bangladesh, tribals took to the streets in northwestern Rajshahi
district on Tuesday to protest against human rights abuses. Hundreds of ethnic tribal
people blocked roads in a northwestern district for hours to demand the government
end human rights abuses being committed against them by the Bengali majority. They
also accused government and law enforcement officials of inaction and collusion regarding
the abuses which they say includes attacks on them by Bengalis amid land and property
disputes, the grabbing of their land with fake documents and the rape of tribal women.
At least 300 tribal men and women took part in the protest organized by Jatiya Advasi
Parishad, JAP - a national forum working for the rights of tribal people in northern
Bangladesh. The protesters said the situation has got worse in recent years. “Land
grabbers have re-launched efforts to force local tribal people from their ancestral
lands. They seem to have the backing of local government officials and law enforcers,”
said Anil Marandi, a Santal tribal leader. He said they have complained to the authorities
many times about the land grabbers’ tactics, but nothing has been done to stop it.
JAP president Rabindranath Soren said the tribals have little choice but to take to
the streets as they have few other options with which to claim their lawful rights.
“We have not been recognized constitutionally and our rights have not been taken into
account. Our backs are against the wall. If the government shows some sincerity we
could live in peace,” he said. An estimated 3 million tribal people belong to about
45 ethnic groups in the country of nearly 160 million. About half of the country’s
350,000 Catholics are tribal people.