27 eminent citizens condemn attack on indigenous group

Expressing their grief over the attack on an indigenous group and its supporters protesting the removal of the word "adivasi" (indigenous in Bangla) from textbooks, 27 eminent citizens said that such incidents contradict the principles of building an inclusive state and tarnish the image of the state and government.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, they said that the attack selectively targeted activists who are vocal about establishing the rights of indigenous communities.

"In an attempt to conceal the perpetrators' crimes, the police were seen cleaning the bloodstains from the streets after the attack. Such incidents highlight the continued oppression of indigenous communities in both the hills and plains. We strongly condemn this incident," the statement read.

The signatories believe that the police's inaction in such crimes reflects the insensitivity of the state, further exposing the systemic oppression faced by indigenous communities.

Similarly, the statement pointed out that the acceptance of demands to remove the term "indigenous" from textbooks, along with the violent attacks on protest programmes that left indigenous students and citizens bloodied and injured, indicates an effort to establish a communal state, undermining the multicultural essence of Bangladesh.

"We believe it is crucial to resist the rise of religiously fanatic and extremist mindsets that oppose differing opinions, paths, and cultural practices. Instead, efforts must focus on building a sensitive state structure that fosters an environment conducive to the practice of all beliefs, ideologies, and cultures," the statement asserted.

It further added that in the inevitable pursuit of an inclusive state, every conscious citizen and the media must remain vocal in urging the government and political institutions to fulfill their responsibilities with accountability.