SUPPORT TO CHT ACCORD, 1997
CHT Accord was signed on December 02, 1997 between the government of Bangladesh and the Parbattya Chattagram Jono Samhati Samity (PCJSS) leading to the end of two decades of bloody unrest in the CHT. RDC fully supports the efforts to resolve the ethnic problem of the country through peaceful means and celebrates the day every year and advocates for the implementation of the Peace Accord through seminars, workshops, discussions, press conferences, public gatherings and publications.
BANGLADESH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS ACT (BIPRA)
Research and Development Collective (RDC) has taken initiative to formulate Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (BIPRA) through a rigorous consultation processes. The Act is now ready for presenting in Parliament. Parliamentary Caucus has taken initiatives to propose BIPRA Act on Indigenous Peoples Rights as a bill in the next Parliament Session. BIPRA will provide the legal frame-work that must be accommodated in the development programs, projects, and activities along with the following agendas:
– Recognition and protection of ancestral domain / land rights,
– Self-governance and empowerment,
– Cultural integrity,
– Social justice and human rights
RECOGNITION OF ADIVASI AND DALIT FREEDOM FIGHTERS
Indigenous peoples as well as other marginalized sections of our society (e.g. Dalits, peasants, labors etc) actively participated in the liberation war of Bangladesh (1971) and many of them sacrificed their lives for the independence of our country. But unfortunately, their contributions have not been recognized in the History of Bangladesh. RDC took the pioneering role in organizing Reception Programs for the Adivasi and Dalit freedom fighters in recognition of their role in the liberation war.
PROTEST AGAINST ECO PARK AND NATIONAL PARK PROJECTS
Eco Park and National Park Projects at Muroichara and Madhabkunda in Moulovi Bazar and at Modhupur Gar in Tangail possess threats to environment and local habitats that include indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. RDC joined hands with other like-minded organizations and the indigenous peoples in protest of these projects. RDC, along with others, organized rallies, press conferences and discussion sessions during protest to stimulate public attention. This led to postponement of Eco Park in Moroichara and temporary stoppage of National Park project implementation in Modhupur by the Government.
ADVOCACY FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The rights of the 75 Indigenous communities with a population of about 3 million (30 Lakh) are much talked about among cross-sections of peoples of the country now a days and RDC can claim that it has worked tirelessly for last 18 years to achieve that. The Adivasi issue has become a national issue in Bangladesh today. However, the policy makers are yet to act decisively on the issues of Constitutional Recognition of the indigenous peoples and their traditional land rights. RDC is committed to continue its work until the Adivasi rights are ensured.
ADVOCACY FOR THE RIGHTS OF TEA-COMMUNITY
Tea-workers and the Tea-Community of the greater Sylhet region is one of the most marginalized communities of the country. At present there are about 1,00,000 tea-workers living across different parts of the region, and the tea-community is comprised of about 8,00,000 people. These people have long been leading a life of great suffering including landlessness, lack of education and inadequate work opportunities. RDC took the pioneering initiative to reveal the distressed life of the tea-community through facilitating a National Seminar at Dhaka in February 2007 titled ‘Life of Tea-Community: Degraded Humanity’. This seminar generated wide media coverage and public attention to their problems that prompted the government to form an Investigation Committee that visited several tea gardens in mid-February 2007 to investigate the situation. RDC intends to follow up the initiative taken by the government to ensure that tea-workers get the minimum national wage alongside other rights.
PROTEST AGAINST PHULBARI OPEN-PIT COAL MINING (2006)
Open-pit Coalmining at Phulbari is a threat to environment with regard to loss of natural vegetation that may bring adverse effect on agriculture and lead to food shortage. The open-pit mining operation in Phulbari will dislocate around 5 lakh people including 50,000 indigenous in that area. RDC joined hands with other like-minded organizations and the local people in protest. RDC also facilitated organizing a national level discussion session on September 30, 2006 to protest against open-pit mining at Phulbari. Later the government asked Asia Energy to stop functioning there, but tension still continues as local people and the national campaign body on the issue, alongside several environmentalists, is demanding cancellation of the project.
CHALLENGING MAHALCHARI MASSACRE IN CHT
RDC took the first initiative to actively protest the Mahalchari Massacre in CHT that occurred on 26 August 2003. 432 households of 14 Adivasi villages in Mahalchariupazila under Khagrachari District faced arson, brutality and murder that included men, women and children as well. Many women were also subject to physical violence and gang rape. News of that massacre did not reach rest of the country until RDC led a team of journalist and human rights activist to investigate the spot. Later RDC organized a press conference, facilitated protest rally at central Shaheed Minar and forming human chain in front of High Court. RDC made a documentary film, together with Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, titled ‘MahalcharirKanna’ (Cry of Mahalchari). The incident was broadcasted through national and international media including BBC. This led to the formation of a Parliamentary Investigation Committee and a Tripartite Committee (Govt. Donor and CHTRC representative) who made a door to door damage assessment. Later rehabilitation packages were provided by the Government and the United Nations to rehabilitate the affected Adivasis.