44 Eminent Citizens Protest Ministers Denial of Indigenous Identity in Bangladesh

Forty-four prominent citizens have issued a joint statement condemning remarks made by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, who recently denied the existence of indigenous populations in Bangladesh. The signatories labeled the ministers’ statements as contradictory to both the national constitution and international legal standards, demanding an immediate retraction of what they described as misleading and undesirable rhetoric.

The controversy stems from an August 11 roundtable discussion in Dhaka titled “Indigenous Identity Irrelevant for Bangladesh,” where the ministers claimed that no indigenous groups exist in the country and asserted that all citizens should be identified solely as Bangladeshi. They further contended that Bangladesh has not ratified the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or ILO Convention 169.

In their statement, the concerned citizens expressed deep frustration and outrage, arguing that such comments from high-ranking government officials threaten the distinct identity and internationally recognized rights of indigenous communities. They clarified that indigenous identity and Bangladeshi citizenship are not mutually exclusive, emphasizing that indigenous individuals hold both constitutional citizenship and a unique ethnic identity.

The signatories pointed to Article 23(A) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, which mandates the state to protect the culture and heritage of small ethnic groups and communities. They maintained that recognizing indigenous identity does not jeopardize national unity or sovereignty, but rather fosters an inclusive and equitable society.

Addressing the ministers’ legal claims, the statement noted that while Bangladesh has not ratified ILO Convention 169, it remains legally bound by the 1957 ILO Convention 107. The signatories further highlighted that existing domestic laws, including the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950, the Income Tax Act of 2023, the Finance Act of 1995, and the National Education Policy of 2010, already contain specific provisions for the protection of indigenous rights.

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The statement also questioned the political consistency of the current administration, noting that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had previously pledged to transform the country into a “Rainbow Nation.” They referenced a 2003 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples message from the late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who explicitly acknowledged indigenous people as equal citizens of Bangladesh.

The signatories criticized the ministers for adopting rhetoric previously utilized by the deposed autocratic regime, asserting that such claims are unbecoming of a government formed through a popular democratic uprising. They warned that these statements risk damaging the nation’s international reputation and called for an immediate withdrawal of the remarks to resolve public confusion.

The statement was signed by a diverse group of civil society members, including Sultana Kamal, Khushi Kabir, Shirin Parveen Huq, Rasheda K. Choudhury, Iftekharuzzaman, Shahdeen Malik, Z.I. Khan Panna, Abu Sayeed Khan, Shahidul Alam, Sara Hossain, and various other academics, activists, and legal experts.