Criticising the government for not observing the 'World Indigenous Day' officially, they said it's the failure of the government as well as shame for the country.

The roundtable titled 'Mother language of indigenous people and their culture' was jointly organised by Imagine a New South Asia (INSA) and Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) at the National Press Club in the city.

The speakers said the indigenous people will have to be given their rights on land and language.

They should have the right to get lessons through their mother languages, at least up to primary level, they added.

Chaired by Prof Anisuzzaman of Dhaka University, the meeting was also addressed by Justice Ghulam Rabbani, Raja Devasish Roy, Nawazish Ali Khan of ATN Bangla, Humaira Kabir of Shakti Foundation, Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled, former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, Asgar Ali of Action Aid and Shamsul Huda of the Association for Land Reform and Development.

Justice Ghulam Rabbani said as indigenous people are the citizens of the country, it is the duty of the government to protect their rights.

Prof Anisuzzaman said World Indigenous Day is the only day that the government does not observe officially and it is very unfortunate.

He said they will have to be given the rights to get lessons through their mother tongue, at least up to primary level.

Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled said a garden without different kinds of flower does not look beautiful.

"If we consider ourselves as 'rose', they (indigenous people) are also flowers and together we are all Bangladeshis," he added.