International Day of Indigenous Peoples was celebratedin the district as elsewhere in the country and the globe today with a call to raise awareness and protect their rights on social and cultural diversities.

This year’s theme of the day was “Indigenous youth are the main force in the movement to establish the right to self-determination.” Marking the day, Abalamban, Bagda Farm Bhumi UddharSangram Committee, JatiyoAdibashiParishad, AdibashiBangaliSanghatiParishad and SamazikSangramParishad chalked out the elaborate progrmmes.

The programmes included bringing out colorful rally, arrow-throwing competition and holding cultural function through the active participation of the Adivashi people.

In the morning,  a big colorful rally was brought out from the premises of Gaibandha Public Library and Club  and it ended at the same venue after parading the main roads of the local areas.

Then a discussion meeting was held at the auditorium of the club  with president of SahebganjBagdafarm Bhumi UddharSongram Committee PhilomonBasker in the chair.

Teacher of Dhaka University RubayetFerdous, executive director of AbalambanProbirChakrabartee, indigenous leadersPricilaMurmu, TrishnaMurmu,ShufalHembrom, convener of Adibashi-BanglaliSanghatiParishad Advocate Sirajul Islam Babu, member secretary of SamazikSangramParishadZahangirKabirTonu, human rights worker Golam Rabbani Musa, addressed the meeting among others.

The speakers in their speeches stressed the need for setting up cultural academy aimed at protecting their cultural heritage side by side with teaching the indigenous children in their own language. They also demanded of the government to form Land Commission for the indigenous people like the people of the mainland.

At last, the indigenous girls performed dances and rendered songs to entertain the people coming from far flung areas of the district and its neighboring areas. A large number of indigenous people and their leaders, devotees, social workers including media men were present on the occasion.