Dhaka, June 28 (BDNEWS) – Deputy Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Moni Swapan Dewan Wednesday raised in the Parliament the demand of amending the constitution to recognise the linguistic minorities in the country.
"It is now a demand of time, high time to recuperate the wrongs Awami League had done many years back," Moni Swapan Dewan told the house while participating in the budget session.
He said, MN Larma, founder of Parbatya Chottogram Jano Sanghati Somity (PCJSS) and an independent parliamentarian made similar proposal in the sangsad in 1972. As his demand was ignored, he took the path of armed struggle.
Moni Swapan is the first to raise the issue again in the JS after MN Larma.
Swapan, a former guerrilla leader, said, a proposal concerning indigenous people's constitutional recognition was raised prior to framing of the constitution.
"Even after framing of constitution, we continued to press the demand. Although Awami League had majority in the parliament, the issue remains unmet," he continued.
The Deputy Minister said the historic flaw Awami League had made must be amended right now.
"Bangladesh is not only a country of Bengalis; it nurtures people of heterogeneous ethnicities. From time immemorial, some 45 ethnic groups, including those in Chittagong Hill Tracts, have been living here with individual heritage and culture," he informed the session, stressing, "Indigenous people should have the right to live with dignity by constitutional recognition".
"Constitution is not the holy Quran, Bible, Geeta or Tripithak, which has to be kept unchanged," Moni said, adding, "Earlier, the constitution experienced quite a few changes following people's demand. So, keeping the indigenous people in mind, it has to be amended once again."
Later talking to BDNEWS, the Deputy Minister said he would bring a proposal in the parliamentary standing committee for the constitutional recognition of indigenous people.
Meanwhile, national platform for 45 ethnic groups welcomed his speech of Moni Swapan Dewan.
General Secretary of Adivasi Forum and noted writer Sanjib Drong said although Moni Swapan Dewan is a deputy minister of the incumbent government, they congratulate his courageous speech in the parliament.
He added "AL kept mum on the issue having majority in the parliament earlier. We hope, the four-party alliance with their majority in the house will pay heed to our demands and eventually will take necessary steps."
BDNEWS/1825 hrs
