PPLA Partners with Caritas to organise Regional Workshop

On the 5th August 2022, PPLA partnered with Caritas Mymensingh to organise a regional workshop with the aim of presenting central research findings from the project, and working with community leaders to identify what the implications are for Indigenous Peoples’ land rights in Greater Mymensingh. Dr Oliver Scanlan from the Center for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, presented select findings from the research, highlighting how surveys are not able to address issues of historical injustice.

With interpretation support from PPLA researcher Parag Ritchil, Dr Scanlan explained how this is a general problem with surveying practice and land administration theory globally, this has potentially crucial importance for Indigenous communities in Mymensingh. Noting the sub-district Jamalpur Sadar lay within the region, Dr Scanlan highlighted issues of historical dispossession, and exclusionary forest policies as two key problem areas that might be usefully discussed. There was then a Q and A session and general discussion.

Participants suggested that the findings, while useful, were very “academic”, and a more practical and grounded approach would have been useful. Mr Eugene Nokrek, Chairman of the Community Organisation Joyenshahi Adivasi Unnoyon Parishad, noted that surveyors do not consider it their duty to deal with these kinds of historical problems, but then what can be done practically on this issue?

Following a tea break, participants divided into two groups to discuss and identify key problems relating to land in their respective geographic areas. These findings were then presented in a sharing and discussion session held after lunch, during which a number of major ongoing obstacles were identified. Bangladesh has yet to ratify ILO Convention 169 on the rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. Although the earlier convention, 107, has been ratified, it has not been implemented. This is a major gap as whatever its shortcomings, ILO 107 has very strong provisions concerning land and forest rights. There continues to be a lack of demarcation and recognition of Indigenous territories, and the land commission for Indigenous peoples in the Bangladesh plains has yet to be implemented by the Government, despite being promised in previous elections. This means that ongoing problems with land acquisition for development projects, particularly those addressing conservation issues, continue to significantly impact Indigenous communities across Greater Mymensingh.  

Following this, the Regional Director of Caritas Mymensingh Mr Apurbo Mrong offered the closing remarks. He noted that while obviously practical solutions were necessary, it is always helpful to have academic partnerships in exploring these issues, and thanked everyone present for their contributions. Floor speeches were delivered by:

Mr Ajoy A. Mree, President, Greater Mymensingh Adivasi Development Council (GMADC)

Mr Eugene Nokrek, Chairman, Joyenshahi Adivasi Unnoyon Parishod, Madhupur

Mr James Jornesh Chiran, Senior Vice Chairman, Tribal Welfare Association, Central Committee

Mrs Rani Nokrek, President, Adivasi Women Association (AWA)

Mr Arronyo Chiran, Secretary General, United Council of the Indigenous Organizations of the Greater Mymensingh (UCGM)