Dhaka: The existence of many indigenous people living in hard to reach areas of the country is at stake despite the government’s claim of becoming a lower-middle income country, said president of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanhati Samity (PCJSS) Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma on Saturday.

‘The present government is affirming that Bangladesh has turned into a lower-middle income country. Bangladesh Adivasi Forum wants to make a strong statement that this claim doesn’t have any reflection, nor any truth, on the lives of thousands of indigenous people living in hard to reach areas of the country,’ he said.

Larma, also the president of Bangladeshi Adivasi Forum, came up with the observations while speaking at a press conference, held at a city hotel by Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, ahead of the 22nd International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9.

The PCJSS president further said, ‘The existence of indigenous peoples is at stake due to violations of human rights, land grabbing, suppression and oppression. Even the calculation of the per capita income that they (govt) show doesn’t have any reflection on the indigenous people.’

He announced a four-day-long programme to observe the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples to press home its 10-point demand.

The demands include announcement of a roadmap to implement the CHT Peace Accord by the government, amending the Constitution to acknowledge the self-identity and rights of the indigenous people and immediate enactment of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Land Dispute Resolution Commission (Amendment) Act, 2016.

Oikya NAP president Pankaj Bhattacharya, eminent columnist Syed Abul Maksud and Prof Mesbah Kamal of Dhaka University addressed the press conference expressing their solidarity to the demands.

General secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum Sanjeeb Drong conducted the press conference. Jatiya Adivasi Parishad president Rabindra Nath Soren was also present.