CHT students boycott classes

Khagrachharhi, July 14 (bdnews24.com) ? Demanding that they be recognised as indigenous, students boycotted their classes in all educational institutions in the three hill districts on Thursday.

Brihattara Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad (BPCPCP) called the strike on Thursday.

The students also demanded that the 15th amendment to the constitution be scraped.

According to the 15th amendment to the constitution passed on June 30, every citizen of Bangladesh is a 'Bengalee', instead of being recognised as 'indigenous' or 'Adivasi'.

"Bangladesh is a country of diversified sects and communities, and languages. But the government has imposed the Bengalee nationality over the indigenous people by hurriedly passing the amendment bill," BPCPCP central president Ongyo Marma said in a statement.

It says the people of the country, who speak different languages, do not want to be recognised as Bengalees.

The amendment recognises the hill people as 'tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities', which the indigenous leaders and dignitaries of the country find humiliating and insulting.

bdnews24.com/corr/rrd/kms/trb/pks/sam/2335h

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