Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda has said that socio-economic disparities related to ethnic minorities in Bangladesh have now significantly reduced.
The Land Minister said this today, Friday, at a rally, discussion meeting, and cultural program organized by the ‘Uttar-Banga Adivasi Forum’ on the occasion of the historic 169th Great Santal Rebellion Day at the Engineering Institute Auditorium and premises in the capital.
The Land Minister said that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ensured the rights of ethnic minority populations in Bangladesh in the 1972 Constitution. Subsequently, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has included the matter of ensuring the rights of ethnic minority citizens in all her national policies.
The Land Minister further said, keeping in mind Bangabandhu’s policy of ‘Jal Jaar, Jola Taar’, we are considering giving highest priority to genuine fishermen in leasing water bodies and including this in the water body policy. In addition, various rational demands of ethnic minority communities living in plain lands will be presented to the appropriate authorities -he added.
Mentioning the President of the Republic of India, Droupadi Murmu, the Land Minister said that her election as President is a dignified chapter for the Santal community worldwide. The Minister also mentioned that the Santal Rebellion of 1855 played a pioneering role in the anti-colonial movement in India and inspired the national independence movement of India.
The Land Minister further said that the goal of the government’s Smart Bangladesh plan is inclusive development of citizens from all ethnic groups.
The special guest at the event was Md. Ziaur Rahman, Member of Parliament for Chapainawabganj-2 constituency and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. Others present included Mrinmoy Chakraborty, Director of the Indira Gandhi Cultural Center at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Bless Emmanuel Trudeau, Director of the Santal Pargana Film and Art Institute of India, among others. The event was presided over by Hingu Murmu, Chair of the ‘Uttar-Banga Adivasi Forum’, among others. Members of the Santal community from all over the country were present at the event.
Earlier, upon arrival at the Engineering Institute premises in Ramna, the Land Minister was greeted with traditional Santal dance. Then, the Land Minister laid a floral wreath at a temporary memorial erected in the Engineering Institute premises to pay respects to the Santal rebels and hoisted the national flag of Bangladesh. Subsequently, the program began in the Engineering Institute auditorium after observing one minute of silence in memory of the brave martyrs of Bangladesh’s liberation war and the heroes who sacrificed themselves in the Santal rebellion.
It’s worth noting that the 169th anniversary of the Santal Rebellion will be on June 30, 2024. This rebellion took place in 1855-56 in Bhognadih village of West Bengal, India, under the leadership of two brothers, Sidhu Murmu and Kanu Murmu, against the British colonial rulers. It is known in history as the Santali ‘Hul’ or Santal Rebellion.