Mr. Hans Hoffmeyer Senior Advisor/Programme Coordinator of Project Support Unit-Human Rights and Good Governance of Danida & Mr. MB Akter Program Manager of Oxfam GB, a total five members of visitor team visited ECDO office and its project area at Jaintapur Upozela under Sylhet district for monitoring the progress of Anagrasar Gono Unnayan Prokolpo (A backward community development project) which was started at the end of 2007 with support from Oxfam GB & Danida.

During their field visit they met and discussed with local government representatives and community peoples to know about the immediate impact of this project & for future directions. After field visit they also met with the executive members of ECDO. It should be mentioned that ECDO is implementing this project in the indigenous area to create awareness and ensure capacity building for the local indigenous people’s organization such as; Community Based Organization (CBO), Traditional Social Structure (TSS), and to ensure their rights for education, land and other rights on indigenous issues in the aspect of national and international.

ECDO have already some significant achievements under this project within this short period of time, which is appreciated by different stakeholders and civil society members. One of the mentionable achievements is that after getting different training under this project access of indigenous peoples to the different local government offices increasing gradually. Now they have gained some capacity to bargain about their rights with the local government authorities.

ECDO organized a District Level Consultative Meeting on 31^st December 2009 under Anagrasar Gono Unnayan Prokolpa (Backward Community Development Project) with support from Oxfam GB. The consultative meeting was presided by the additional deputy commissioner (Education & Development) of Sylhet Mr. Ahmed Shamim Al-Raji. Mr Lakshmikanta Singh Executive Director of ECDO was present as the moderator of the meeting. At the beginning of this meeting he delivered a well come speech and described about the aims and objectives of the meeting.

The main objectives of this meeting were as follows;

• Sensitizing deputy commissioner and other district level government offices on indigenous issues.
• Introducing present situation of indigenous peoples to different local government offices as well as civil society.
• To get attention of local government authorities for the solution of existing indigenous people’s problems on education, land, health, human rights & for other important issues.

It should be mentioned at the beginning of the meeting the Executive Director of ECDO made a presentation on the present activities of ECDO & the existing situation of indigenous peoples.  In this meeting among the participants there were present different representatives from civil society, government and non government organizations. The deputy commissioner office gave some commitment to work for the solution of existing indigenous peoples problems. They also suggest to indigenous leaders to share with deputy commissioner office any kinds of problems on indigenous issues, so that they can take proper steps for solution. Finally, the deputy commissioner office thanked to ECDO for organizing like this exceptional important meeting on indigenous issues.