Ensure constitutional rights of ethnic people, Dalits: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has demanded the government should ensure constitutional recognition and rights of ethnic people and Dalits in the country.

The anti-graft watchdog also urged the government to provide legal and constitutional framework for them in order to ensure their rights.

TIB made the call on Sunday after it disclosed the findings of the study titled: "Indigenous and Dalit communities in Bangladesh: challenges of inclusion in terms of rights and services and ways out".

It conducted the study between February 2018 and February 2019 in 14 districts where most of the ethnic communities live and 14 other districts where more Dalit communities live in.

TIB Senior Programme Manager Abu Sayeed Md Jewel Mia presented the findings of the study.

TIB also placed 13-point recommendations to ensure constitutional recognition and equal rights of ethnic people and Dalits.

"Their status certainly contradicts with the constitution of the country that provides equal opportunities for all irrespective of religion, community, ethnicity, men and women, as well as the state policy of inclusive development," the study said.

The government has taken a number of positive initiatives to provide the ethnic and Dalit communities with facilities but these are not enough to address the issues of establishing their constitutional rights, it added.

TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "Despite positive achievements, the indigenous people and Dalits face extreme deprivation and discrimination."

He added: "There are lapses in the legal and constitutional framework of the country. The constitution provides equal rights for all regardless of religion, ethnicity and community."

There are about 50 indigenous communities in the country, but 27 of them are in name only, the study pointed out. It also demanded 5 per cent job quota for them.

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