The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion said yesterday that time had come to recognise and establish the identity of the indigenous people in the constitution of the country.

They urged to restore the fundamental four principles of the 1972 constitution to eliminate all types of discrimination from the country.

The discussion held at the National Liberation Museum marked the 25th death anniversary of Manobendra Narayan Larma organised by the Bangladesh Adibashi Odhiker Andolon. Pankaj Bhatyacharya, Presidium member of the Ganoforum, Presided over the programme.

Terming Larma as a pragmatic and progressive leader, Saiyad Abul Moksud, columnist and researcher, said his death was a big loss for both the indigenous and the deprived-poor Bangali people of the country.

President of Bangladesh Workers Party, Rashed Khan Menon said our mentality should be upgraded for the implementation of Parbatya Shanti Chukti of 1997.

The speakers said, he raised his voice to protect and establish the human rights not only of the people of hill-districts but also for the people of the plain lands. He dreamed of a secular state, they added.

It may be mentioned, Larma was killed on November 10, 1983 by some dissidants of his party.

Ruhin Hossen Prince, member of the central committee of Bangladesh Communist Party, Prof. HKS Arefin of Dhaka University, among others, spoke at the commemorating meeting.