Dhaka: the government is not sympathetic and cordial to protect the rights of indigenous people, alleges Bangladesh Adivasi Forum President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma.

He also said they would continue their movement to safeguard the existence and various rights of the ethnic minority groups, urging youths belonging to the groups to come forward spontaneously to strengthen the ongoing movement.

‘We had signed the peace treaty with this ruling government. But we’re deprived of all rights and promises. There’s no alternative to strengthening the movement to realise the rights,’ Santu Larma said while addressing a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital, reports UNB.

Bangladesh Adivasi Forum organised the rally, marking the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples which was observed on Tuesday with the theme ‘Indigenous peoples' rights to education, land and life’.

Santu Larma, also president of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS), lamented that many indigenous people were assaulted by miscreants in various parts of the country even today.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon underscored the need for taking political steps to resolve the problems of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Mizanur Rahman and rights activist Sultana Kamal, among others, spoke at the programme.

Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism Assistant Professor Rubayet Ferdous read out the speech of the UN Secretar General issued marking the day.