Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO) organized the ‘Anagrasar Ganaunnayan Project’ (AGUP) orientation program at Goainghat upozila on the 16th of May 2008. The Chief Guest was Upozilla Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Goainghat, Mr. Zamil Ahmed. The orientation was presided by Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director of ECDO with the chairperson of Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) Goainghat Upozilla Mr. Shafiqur Rahman as the special guest.

The meeting began with an introductory speech by Miss. Nongpoklai Sinha ECDO’s Project Coordinator (DIGNITY). Mr. Rabi Kiron Singha, Project Coordinator (AGUP) then presented his paper on the details activities of AGU Project.

The Chief Guest Mr. Zamil Ahmed delivered his speech on the importance of education for the indigenous people, as well as the need to ensure that their land rights are upheld for their development. Stressing on the importance of land rights for the indigenous peoples, he noted that there was no printed or published inheritance law for the indigenous people but there are many land related cases for the indigenous people which have been intentionally kept aside because it is a very sensitive issue and they don’t have a source of reference. He therefore, requested ECDO to take the initiative to publish inheritance laws for all the indigenous communities of this region.

An open discussion followed with the issue of land grabbing from mainstream community taking precedence. The headman of Lama Punjee Mr. Richon Kongwang said that this occurred because the indigenous people lacked land documentation. Mr. Zamil Ahmed said that various trainings, workshops and meetings should be organized with the Upozila Assistant Commissioner (Land) so as to ensure his assistance. Other participants brought up the issue of health. The children, women and elder men are suffering a lot of due to lack of health service facilities in their punjee (villages) and have to travel over 70 kms to receive better health facility from the District Hospital. This is because of the lack of proper communication infrastructure from the punjee to district headquarters.

Mr. Lakshmikanta then made his speech adding that ECDO is committed to work for the development of indigenous communities and that ECDO will work towards ensuring the solution of the issues raised in the meeting. Mr. Lakshmikanta then closed the meeting with a special thank you to chief guest Mr. Zamil Ahmed for taking time from his busy schedule to attend the Project Orientation Meeting and giving lots of suggestions and recommendations. He also thanked the participants from the civil society, journalists and the indigenous people for attending and making the meeting a success.