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An Appeal from the Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh
on the Occassion of Bangladesh Development Forum Meet
May 17 and 18, 2003, Dhaka
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
There are more than 45 Indigenous peoples in Bangladesh. Sometimes they are also known as adivasi or ‘aboriginal’. The government prefers the term “tribals” in official documents, although some legal documents also sometimes refer to them as aboriginals or indigenous hillmen or indigenous tribes. The term ‘Jumma’ is widely used in the CHT to refer to the indigenous peoples who live in the CHT. According to the official census of 1991, the total number of indigenous (officially “tribal”) people in Bangladesh was 1,205,978. However, these figures are gross underestimates.[More]
Statement of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum
on the occasion of the meeting of the Bangladesh Development Forum-2004
in Dhaka on 8-10 May, 2004
Background
The consortium of donor and lending agencies of the Government of Bangladesh
(“GOB”), together known as the “Bangladesh Development Forum” (“BDF”), is about to
have its annual meeting in Dhaka, from 8-10 May, 2004, to deliberate on the nature and
extent of aid to the GOB. The Bangladesh Adivasi Forum (“the Forum”) feels that it is
important for members of the BDF, and their related governments and agencies, to
understand the concerns of the more than 45 indigenous peoples in Bangladesh regarding
development aid to GOB in general and about the actual and potential impact of such aid
upon the indigenous population of this country.
Our policy on Development Aid and our Major Concern
As a developing country, Bangladesh does require development aid and this Forum and
the indigenous peoples of Bangladesh support the grant of development aid to GOB, but
such aid must be used in a manner that is consonant with basic human rights of all
citizens of Bangladesh, and in particular, its indigenous peoples, minorities, and other
marginalized sections of the national population.[More]
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