Believing the motto “Think globally and Act locally”- a very effective way to deal with different development issues in aspect of globalization, Global Xchange team 79 conducted a Global Citizenship Day (GCD) with the focus of “Violation Of Human Rights in Aspect of Indigenous & Tribal People” . In the day, all the GX volunteers gathered in Choto Kumira near to Chittagong, known for an indigenous tribe called “Tripura”. While meeting them, volunteers passed time and exchanged views with the local inhabitant Tripura. They learnt how the Tripura and other indigenous & Tribal People have been living peacefully for hundreds of years and living upon Jum cultivation in Chittagong Hill tracks. However, after 1992 there was a huge blood shedding conflict between local settler Bangali and indigenous & tribal people in Chittagong hill track. In this a collision, a huge massacre took place and lots of indigenous & tribal people lost their lives and the aftermath of the violence has left deep scars on both sides. After that, although a peace accord was signed eleven years earlier in 1997, there has been a catastrophic failure to implement the accord’s terms, and human rights violations increased dramatically when Emergency Rule was declared in January 2007. More than fifty indigenous activists have been arrested since January 2007, often on false arms charges. Many have been tortured and given long and unjust prison terms, and two Jummas have died in police custody when their human rights were violated severely.
Realizing these facts, each one of all 18 volunteers has decided to send a petition letter to honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh to let her know their concern about the violation of human rights and to take proper initiative for humanitarian response about these indigenous group of people. Each of the Global Xchange volunteers started the campaign by signing the petition to the PM. With this connection, Muhhammad Umar Khaiyam GX volunteer & member of Amnesty International said, “Movement against any violation of human rights will be successful, when citizens of the society will be aware about exploited section of people and stand beside them to voice out for them”.
Later the volunteers played with the children and fixed the roof of their only school in that area. They also distributed books and other primary education related instruments to them funded by the Pulteney Town Peoples Project of Caithness, Scotland. They also painted the school fencing colorfully so that it can be long lasting as well as lively to enjoy their class times in schools. Toffazzal Liton, one of the volunteers, told, “Tribal and indigenous people are the most exploited community in our society. Only if we are sincere about their human rights and show respect, can we change their ill fate tomorrow”.
Finally, all the volunteers agreed upon stepping forward for the rights of people and continuing advocacy on a local and international level. They have also urged local authority to be more attentive about violation of Human Rights of Indigenous & Tribal People of Bangladesh
