Toni Chiran Addresses UNPFII on 6 Mandated Areas: Calls for Justice and Recognition of IP Rights in Bangladesh
IPNEWS International Desk, New York: Toni Chiran, representative of the Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum, delivered a statement at the 24th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) on April 25, 2025. Speaking under Agenda Item 4—“Discussion on the six mandated areas of the Permanent Forum (Economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights)” Mr. Chiran raised urgent concerns about the condition of Indigenous peoples in Bangladesh.
Toni Chiran acknowledged Bangladesh’s rich cultural heritage and appreciated recent cultural initiatives by the Interim Government led by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. However, he highlighted that progress across all six mandated areas remains slow, with human rights violations continuing to escalate.
Mr. Chiran cited a brutal attack on January 15, 2025, when a group identifying as “Students for Sovereignty” assaulted Indigenous students, journalists, and activists protesting the removal of Indigenous-themed content from textbooks. Thirteen Indigenous individuals were severely injured. Despite public outcry, no justice has been served and the perpetrators have reportedly been released without consequence.
Toni also referenced communal violence in September 2024 across Dighinala, Khagrachari, and Rangamati Sadar in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), where three Indigenous people were killed and at least 20 others injured. He emphasized that these incidents are part of a broader pattern of systemic oppression.
One of the key issues raised was the displacement of Indigenous communities from ancestral lands due to so-called development projects—including export processing zones, eco-tourism initiatives, rubber plantations, and military infrastructure. Eviction threats and land seizures were specifically reported in Tangail, Sherpur, Gazipur, Dinajpur, and the Mymensingh plains. Tea companies were also accused of forcibly occupying lands belonging to Khasi and Garo communities in Sylhet.
Indigenous human rights defenders, Toni Chiran said, are regularly criminalized, falsely accused, and arbitrarily detained for speaking out. He noted a disturbing rise in violence against Indigenous women and girls, with over 25 cases of rape and sexual violence reported in 2024 alone, often linked to land disputes.
Despite the signing of the 1997 CHT Accord, its implementation remains incomplete. Furthermore, the promised separate land commission for Indigenous peoples in the plains has yet to materialize.
In conclusion, Toni Chiran presented a set of strong recommendations to the UN Permanent Forum:
The Government of Bangladesh must cease all human rights violations, land grabbing, and development activities on Indigenous lands carried out without Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
A separate land commission for plain land Indigenous peoples should be established, and full implementation of the CHT Accord and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act must be ensured.
UN bodies should conduct field visits to assess the human rights situation and provide actionable recommendations.
A formal framework and mechanisms should be created to protect Indigenous rights and address deep-rooted systemic injustices.
Toni Chiran’s statement was a sobering reminder of the challenges facing Indigenous communities in Bangladesh and a call for immediate and meaningful action from both national and international bodies.
