Leaders of indigenous people alleged that their languages are still neglected, culture denigrated, land grabbed, wisdom and traditional knowledge overlooked, and sustainable ways of developing natural resources dismissed.

They also said there are 45 ethnic groups in the country which are now facing the threat of extinction because 10 years have already passed but the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Peace Treaty is yet to be implemented, and the indigenous day is to be celebrated officially.

Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum organised a daylong programme to celebrate the day.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the programme, Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Shantu Larma, president of Bangladesh Indigenous People's Forum, said their rights to mother tongue, culture, land and natural resources and demand for constitutional recognition would not be fulfilled till a democratic, non-communal and progressive government comes to power.

"Indigenous people's rights and demands will be evaluated with honour if ethnic people can enter into the policy making panels of the country and for this purpose a pro-people, democratic and non-communal government is needed," said Larma, also the president of Parbatya Chattagram Janasanghati Samity.

Prof Rehman Sobhan, a renowned economist, inaugurated the programme at the Institution of Engineers where several thousand indigenous people from different ethnic groups across the country were present to uphold this year's theme of the day 'Indigenous People's Right to Mother Tongue and Culture'.

Rehman Sobhan said Bangladesh's independence was the culmination of the historic language movement in 1952 and the government should give proper honour to ethnic languages, cultures and traditions.

"It is our historical duty to recognise ethnic people's language. We became independent through our language movement. So for keeping the honour of our language movement we should recognise ethnic languages and cultures," he said.

JSD leader Hasanul Haq Inu, Workers' Party leader Rashed Khan Menon and Prof Mesbah Kamal of Dhaka University also spoke on the occasion.

In the evening session, renowned Jurist Dr Kamal Hossain said it is the duty of a nation to establish the rights of its ethnic people.

"Country's development will not be possible ignoring its indigenous people. We should implement the CHT Peace Treaty as early as possible. Otherwise, we will be hated globally for violating the accord," he said while addressing as chief guest.

Sanjeeb Drong moderated the programme where Indigenous leaders Raja Devasish Roy, former legislator Advocate Promode Mankin, European Commission Representative Francoise Collet, Royal Danish Embassy Representative Nathalia Feinberg, Major General (Retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, UNDP Representative Prosanjit Chakma and Prof Sadeka Halim also spoke.

Attired in ethnic costumes, people of Chakma, Marma, Garo, Khashia, Tripura and Santal communities rendered songs and performed dances as part of the daylong programme.

To mark the day, Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre (BDPC) also organised a discussion meeting at its central office where the speakers called upon all to come forward to establish the rights of indigenous people.

Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) with the help of Royal Danish Embassy and Manusher Jonno organised a discussion meeting at its office in the city where the discussants laid emphasis on preserving indigenous culture for the greater interest of diversity.

Coalition of Local NGO's Bangladesh (CLNB) organised another discussion at the National Press Club where participants demanded incorporation of ethnic people into mainstream development.