NGO Affairs Bureau has asked to remove the word ‘Adibashi’ or ‘Indigenous’ from the organizational titles of the NGOs, who are bearing it.
“At least six NGOs are currently bearing ‘Adibashi’ or ‘Indigenous’ on their titles. They are requested to change the titles within a month,” said the bureau’s Director General KM Abdus Salam.
If the NGOs fail to issue new names subtracting the word by Jan 18 next year, they will face legal actions, the bureau chief Samad added.
A letter issued by the NGO Affairs Bureau Assistant Director Shilu Roy has been sent to the six organizations on Dec 18.
“In the line with the Constitution of Bangladesh's Section 23 (A), no indigenous community has been identified in the country,” reads the letter.
Terming the ‘indigenous’ word as a ‘threat’ for national security in present situation at Chattogram Hill Tracts, the letter states, “As part of international indigenous politics, some unscrupulous quarters are pressing for more rights of the indigenous people according to the ILO Convention C169.”
On Sept 9, 2008, Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry has issued an office order to specify the government’s position on the usage of the word ‘indigenous’ in the context of the country.
According to that notice, it termed all non-Bengali people at Hill Tracts as ‘tribal community’.
Another such notice issued in 2015 has declared the word ‘indigenous’ unconstitutional.