DHAKA: Deputy Speaker Colonel (retd) Showkat Ali Monday said people of all religions had fought against Pakistan with the spirit of Bengali Nationalism in 1971.

“But Adivasi people are yet to get their land rights and are displaced from their land,” he said.

The deputy speaker was addressing a discussion meeting organized by Bangladesh Adivasi Adhikar Andolon (BAAA) in observance of the 155th anniversary of historic `Saontal Revolution’ in the capital.

It would not be wise to impose Bengali culture on Adivasi people,” the deputy speaker said.

Justice Golam Rabbani inaugurated the daylong programme with writer Syed Abul Moksud in the chair. Rashed Khan Menon MP, BAAA general secretary Prof Mezbah Kamal and Prof Dalem Chandra Barman also spoke.

BAAA leader Prof Gonesh Soren presented a keynote on ‘Land Problem and Actions of Plain Land Adivasi People’ where he called for a separate land commission.

BDST: 1455 Hrs, June 28, 2010
RT/MMA/FA