Dhaka: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed emphasized at a recent round-table discussion that all citizens residing in Bangladesh are identified as Bangladeshis in both geographical and constitutional terms. Speaking at an event titled ‘Indigenous Identity is Irrelevant for Bangladesh,’ organized by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Research Foundation at a city hotel, Salahuddin stated, “There is no indigenous group here. We are all residents of Bangladesh. According to the Constitution, the rights and privileges of every citizen of the country are equally protected.”
According to United News of Bangladesh, Salahuddin highlighted the equal civil rights enjoyed by all citizens within Bangladesh’s geographical boundaries. He noted that in the July National Charter-2025, political parties and stakeholders unanimously agreed that individuals from all walks of life in Bangladesh will be identified as Bangladeshi. He emphasized that this sense of national unity and political commitment forms the basis for protecting the country’s sovereignty and integrity.
The minister also discussed constitutional protections for disadvantaged communities, stating that the state remains committed to preserving the religious, social, and cultural heritage of small ethnic groups, tribes, and various communities. Salahuddin pointed out that the government maintains special facilities and quota systems to support the welfare of disadvantaged communities, women, and children, ensuring their inclusion in the mainstream, a commitment also recognized in the Constitution.
He cited examples from neighboring multilingual and multinational states, where despite the diversity of languages, separate indigenous entities have not received state recognition. Instead, disadvantaged communities have been integrated into the mainstream through various facilities. Salahuddin noted Bangladesh’s clear stance regarding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted on September 13, 2007, mentioning that Bangladesh abstained from voting on the declaration, joined by many influential countries that opposed it.
Furthermore, he clarified that the declaration and ILO Convention 169 do not apply to Bangladesh, as the country is not a party to the convention. The event was chaired by Chittagong Hill Tracts Research Foundation Chairman Mehadi Hassan Palash, with Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon and State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom serving as special guests.