Separate law enacted for the indigenous: Minister
Friday, 10 December 2010
Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Shafique Ahmed Thursday said the present government is sincere to ensure the rights of the people of all areas, including the indigenous populace, reports BSS.
The present government has enacted a separate law for preservation of indigenous culture and formed a land commission, which would be able to resolve land related problems in the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (CHT) with the cooperation of local people, he added.
Barrister Shafique Ahmed said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of second indigenous network forum meeting organised by Bangladesh Adibashi Forum with the cooperation of CHT Affairs Ministry and Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a city hotel Thursday.
Presided over by Dhaka University Professor Dr Dalem Chandra Bhoumik, the function was addressed, by National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman, CHT Affairs Secretary Masud Ahmed, ADB representatives Roger Plant and Indira Simbolon, and Bangladesh Adibashi Forum Vice-Chairman James Brindra Drang.
The Law Minister said elimination of all sorts of discrimination among the citizens is essential to establish rule of law. The Constitution does not permit any discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, colour and language of any citizen.
He said, if needed, the government would make new laws to protect rights of the indigenous people following their recommendations.
Stressing the need for encouraging the indigenous people to take education, Barrister Shafique said the government would give all cooperation in this connection.
The Law Minister sought cooperation of all to turn Bangladesh into a developed democratic state.
The present government has enacted a separate law for preservation of indigenous culture and formed a land commission, which would be able to resolve land related problems in the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs (CHT) with the cooperation of local people, he added.
Barrister Shafique Ahmed said this while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function of second indigenous network forum meeting organised by Bangladesh Adibashi Forum with the cooperation of CHT Affairs Ministry and Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a city hotel Thursday.
Presided over by Dhaka University Professor Dr Dalem Chandra Bhoumik, the function was addressed, by National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman, CHT Affairs Secretary Masud Ahmed, ADB representatives Roger Plant and Indira Simbolon, and Bangladesh Adibashi Forum Vice-Chairman James Brindra Drang.
The Law Minister said elimination of all sorts of discrimination among the citizens is essential to establish rule of law. The Constitution does not permit any discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, colour and language of any citizen.
He said, if needed, the government would make new laws to protect rights of the indigenous people following their recommendations.
Stressing the need for encouraging the indigenous people to take education, Barrister Shafique said the government would give all cooperation in this connection.
The Law Minister sought cooperation of all to turn Bangladesh into a developed democratic state.