SEHD Moves Office
SEHD has moved to a new office location in Pallabi.
Survival on the Fringe: Adivasis of Bangladesh Book Launched
The launch of Survival on the Fringe: Adivasis of Bangladesh was held at CIRDAP, Dhaka on 29 October 2011. The event was chaired by Prof. Sakhawat Ali Khan, chairperson of SEHD. The editor of the book and the director of SEHD, Philip Gain gave an overview of the book and the Former Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman was the chief guest speaker.
Former Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman has called upon the majority community to eradicate discrimination against the Adivasis of Bangladesh. He was speaking as the chief guest at the launch of the book, Survival on the Fringe: Adivasis of Bangladesh published by Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD). He reminded attendees about the majority’s own crisis and observed, “We are not able to provide security to our majority people. Under the circumstances, it is clear that we don’t pay attention to the small communities.” He thinks that the Adivasis of Bangladesh are dignified people and they do not suffer from an inferiority complex.
The launch and discussion, held at CIRDAP, Dhaka on 29 October 2011, was chaired by Prof. Sakhawat Ali Khan, chairperson of SEHD. The editor of the book and the director of SEHD, Philip Gain gave an overview of the book. Guests and discussants included: Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Professor Emeritus; Dr. Hameeda Hossain, Chairperson of Ain O Shalish Kendra; Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission; Manjulika Chakma, proprietor of Bain Textile; Dr. Shapan Adnan, Member of the CHT Commission; Khushi Kabir, Coordinator of Nijera Kori; Prashanta Tripura, UNDP; and Gidison Pradhan Suchiang, the Secretary General of Greater Sylhet Indigenous People’s Forum.
“The use of the word ‘Adivasi’ is almost forbidden at present,” said Dr. Mizanur Rahman in reference to the Government’s objection about its use and debate around the term. The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Rahman firmly said “The presence of Adivasis in Bangladesh is undeniable. The Adivasis must be addressed as ‘Adivasi’. If not, they will be discriminated against. The state should refrain from doing so.”
The 630-page book, compendium in nature, contains inputs from 47 contributors. It presents comprehensive accounts of the indigenous communities’ profiles, their numbers, and spatial distribution. Additionally, the book contains important writings on crucial issues of the Adivasis, such as their land rights, invasion of state-sponsored monoculture plantation and its effect on the Adivasi life and culture, the challenges of their political life, and their identity. A number of sections of the book deal with the actors involved with Adivasis in Bangladesh and around the globe, glossary, theories, and concepts that relate to the Adivasis.
Read more about Survival on the Fringe: Adivasis of Bangladesh.
Read The Daily Star’s reflection To centre stage from the fringe.
Ambushed by Greed: The Chak Story – Exhibition Review
The Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) organized the photography exhibition “Ambushed by Greed: The Chak Story” which was shown from 23 to 29 June 2011. Held at Drik Gallery, the launching of the exhibition was piggybacked with a daylong seminar on the same theme.
The Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) organized the photography exhibition “Ambushed by Greed: The Chak Story” which was shown from 23 to 29 June 2011. Held at Drik Gallery, the launching of the exhibition was piggybacked with a daylong seminar on the same theme.
In his introductory remarks, Philip Gain, the photographer of the exhibition, explained how the images show an unprecedented ecological disaster that has come along with rubber monoculture, tobacco plantation, and the internal migration of Bangalis.
This has caused hardship and suffering to the Chaks of Bandarban. The Chaks, who number 3,000 in total, are concentrated in 21 villages in Naikhongchhari and Bandarban Sadar upazilas in the Bandarban Hill District. Distinctively different from other ethnic communities in Bangladesh, having a separate language and simple life, this tiny Chak community used to be real forest people, undisturbed and satisfied with their traditional jum agriculture for centuries. But Bangali settlements and the invasion of rubber and tobacco monoculture have opened up the area to the outsiders who have been plundering every natural resource from the Chak land. Consequently, the Chaks are being forced to abandon their homes, land, and traditional agriculture in remote areas.
Gain said that since 2008 he had been trekking through the remote Chak villages, particularly in Baishari Union, only to witness and record some of the devastating effects of rubber monoculture on the high land, and tobacco on the precious bits and pieces of flat land along the streams that the Chaks have used to grow vegetables and other crops.
The exhibition and the seminar were organized to share images and information and to appeal to the state to stop the destruction resulting from the invasion of modern agriculture, internal migration, and ill-conceived development strategies.
Mong Mong Chak, a former official of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Board (CHTB) and a well-known person in the Chak community observed that most of the profits from the rubber plantations go to the Bangalis. “The Chaks do not benefit from rubber plantation that has taken place on their traditional land; they are at the losing end. The rubber plantation also brings social ills—our women in particular feel disturbed due to movement of the employees who come to work at the rubber garden from outside,” said Mong Mong Chak.
Ching La Mong Chak, another leader of the Chak community referred to the government promises that rubber would generate new employment and road connections would improve. “But now we understand the promises were false. Moreover we have lost our land and the Chaks were compelled to desert a number of villages due to rubber cultivation. It brings outsiders to our localities who take away bamboo and trees from our village common forests,” complained Ching La Mong Chak.
Prof. Niaz Zaman, a writer on the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) women and backstrap weaving in particular, reflected that land grabbing has brought changes in every aspect of the Adivasi life in the CHT. The demography of the area has changed so that Bangalis are becoming almost equal in number to the Adivasis. This is dangerous as the Adivasis are gradually being branded as the outsiders and the Bangali settlements get legitimacy.
“That the Adivasis are not constitutionally recognized is a political issue. They are not constitutionally recognized to avoid awarding them land rights. Both issues should be settled politically,” observed Prof. Mohsin. She urged for democratic practice among the political parties and institutions in the CHT.
Abir Abdullah, a professional photographer, reflected on the contents of the photos displayed. “The photos are telling that Philip Gain has taken the images not only as a photographer, but he has become one of the community who are at the centre of the exhibition,” observed Abdulah. “The mission of a photographer is to show what we do to nature and humans; the state is there to take necessary actions if things go wrong. In most instances, the photographers show the beauty of the CHT. This exhibition shows not only the beauty, but also the factors that cause human suffering. From this exhibition we understand how rubber and tobacco cultivation are severely affecting the Chak community.”
“We get little information about the small communities of CHT like Chak and Khyang. We are not well informed about the development projects in CHT. SEHD publications and events play a big role to fill up this gap,” said Goutam Dewan, chairperson of the Movement for the Protection of Forests and Land Rights. He pointed to the myth that huge cultivable land is still available in the CHT, which is used to settle Bangalis in the hills. He asked the CHT land commission to take steps for resolving the land disputes.
Khushi Kabir, the chair at the launching event, urged people to take advantage of the Right to Information Act in getting a fair picture of the land status in the Chak and other Adivasi-inhabited areas. He suggested that the photography exhibition is taken to a public place in order to draw greater attention to the Chak story.
In a plenary session, Philip Gain and Mong Mong Chak presented two keynote papers on the issues relating to the Chaks. In the first presentation, Philip Gain explained how rubber and tobacco cultivation in Bandarban Hill Tracts posed an outstanding threat to the Chaks and the ecology of the area. The second presentation on the Chak life by Mong Mong Chak reflected on the history, social system, economic activities, education, language and culture of the Chak community. “The Chaks are faced with financial hardship because much of their jum land and land for traditional horticulture have been lost to rubber cultivation. The forest resources are also declining. Moreover, they have difficulty selling their agricultural produces due to bad road network and transports”.
The plenary session was followed by two simultaneous workshops. Presided over by Mong Mong Chak and facilitated by Sudatta Bikash Tanchangya, the first workshop concentrated on struggle and future of the Chaks. Lucille Sircar and Partha Shankar Saha (senior researcher of SEHD) who have researched and written on the Chaks initiated the discussion. They talked on life and struggle of the Chaks and provided numerical account on them. The second workshop chaired by Dhung Cha Aung Chak from Baishari and facilitated by ZuamLian Amlai concentrated on rubber, tobacco and the Chak ecology. Journalist Buddyojyoti Chakma and training and program officer of SEHD Shekhar Kanti Ray initiated discussion on the socio-economic impact of tobacco and rubber cultivation.
Issues that emerged from the workshops were:
Rubber cultivation
- Rubber monoculture contributing to the destruction of natural forest and shrinking land available for jum and traditional horticulture.
- Rubber cultivation affecting the social security of the Chak community.
- Grazing land (chashila) and the land of vegetable cultivation at the foot of the hills are being destroyed
- Eviction of some villages due to expansion of rubber cultivation.
- Many Chaks becoming day-laborers at the rubber gardens established on their traditional land.
- Destruction of elephant habitat leading to wild animals attacking the Chak villages.
Tobacco cultivation
- Loss of fertility of the agricultural land.
- Use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, residue of which seeps into the nearby streams resulting in the contamination of water and loss of aquatic resources.
- Negative impact of tobacco on human health.
Others
- Lack of resources, development and inefficiency of the local organizations.
- The Bengali and Rohingya settlements in the Chak area.
A statement of recommendations on the rights of the Chaks was adopted at the launch. See the Citizen Declaration and Recommendation Regarding the Rights of the Chaks for the full statement.
Press Reviews of Ambushed by Greed: The Chak Story
The Star – The Daily Star Weekend Magazine
New Age
Vorer Kagoj
Jai Jai Din
Vivienne Westwood and Marie Claire supporting forest people in Bangladesh
International designer Vivienne Westwood and international fashion magazine Marie Claire have joined forces to highlight the issue of deforestation. This global collaboration will combine the sale of the T-shirt dress with a special Rainforest editorial section in Marie Claire. Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt dress will support the forest people in Bangladesh through SEHD activities.
For the first time ever, an international designer (Vivienne Westwood) and an international fashion magazine (Marie Claire) have joined forces, to launch an exciting global project that both drives awareness of deforestation and influences the current trend of up-cycling your clothes.
In Vivienne’s words ‘Buy less, choose well’.
Rainforests play a vital role in maintaining a stable global climate and environment; they are vital to the survival of all 7 billion of us. Deforestation is one of the largest contributors to climate change. Forests are on the global agenda; the UN General Assembly has declared the year 2011 as the International year of Forests.
To mark this year of change, Vivienne Westwood has designed a limited edition T-shirt dress exclusively for Marie Claire international readers. Not only does this eco friendly T-shirt dress empower any Fashionista, all proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt dress will support the forest people in Bangladesh, whose lives and livelihoods have been endangered by deforestation.
This global collaboration will combine the sale of the T-shirt dress with a special Rainforest editorial section (Guest Editor, Vivienne Westwood), which will be published in 24 editions of Marie Claire from May 2011.
To produce and sell the T-shirt dress online Marie Claire and Vivienne Westwood have partnered with the Fair Trade organisation People Tree. People Tree only uses 100% organic fair trade cotton and all their clothes are made entirely by hand, helping to create livelihoods for disadvantaged groups in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.
Buy this Vivienne Westwood Limited Edition T-shirt dress for only £28 from People Tree and £7 from each sale will help support Forest people in Bangladesh through SEHD activities. Read about SEHD’s organic farming initiative for more information about the project that will be funded.
Organic farming supported by Marie Claire and Vivienne Westwood
The project that Marie Claire and Vivienne Westwood are supporting is all about improving environment and economic conditions of communities in forest villages in Modhupur. Women (Garo and Koch) in particular will be involved in all project activities in sustainable and organic farming, which will also bring them income.
The project that Marie Claire and Vivienne Westwood are supporting is all about improving environment and economic conditions of communities in forest villages in Modhupur. Women (Garo and Koch) in particular will be involved in all project activities in sustainable and organic farming, which will also bring them income. Initially the organic faming practices remain limited to few villages, but gradually everyone, particularly Garo and Koch women living in Modhupur will benefit from the project activities. The forest is severely degraded and its ecological damages are alarming.
The Modhupur sal forest, the third largest forest patch in Bangladesh and home to matrilineal Garo indigenous community, has been thoroughly degraded. In its effort to create models for the protection of forests and sustainable agriculture, SEHD has been providing training in organic farming practices for the Garo women in Modhupur, teaching them how to organically cultivate medicinal plants and raise organic vegetable gardens and how to make a sustainable living from organic crops. It is also establishing a learning centre to educate everyone in the region about organic practices, indigenous culture, and the value of the natural forest.
The Garo women organized by SEHD under the umbrella of Simsaga (stay alert) are the managers of all project activities. The mother garden and nursery that SEHD has organized in Rajghati Village will be further strengthened and expanded so that it is able to supply enough seeds/seedlings and plants to all who want them.
Depending on the support, the maximum number of households possible will be provided with seeds, seedlings and cows (used for dung) to set up their organic garden of vegetables, medicinal plants and fruit trees. These households will play the role of catalysts in organic and sustainable agriculture and income generation through home gardening and by raising cows. They will be trained in savings in order to form a cooperative and help others in their villages. The operation will develop a model of sustainable agriculture and organic farming.
SEHD has already trained a group of villagers, especially women, in organic farming skills in order to develop nursery of saplings, to make naturally rich compost (pit compost, quick compost, green manure, vermi compost, and liquid manure), to set up a bio-gas plant, etc. The participants have also been introduced to different types of medicinal plants of commercial value that SEHD has been raising at its garden. With additional support, the training will be provided to women of as many forest villages as possible.
Women directly involved in organic farming will demonstrate their work to others and eventually become trainers for others in other in forest villages. They will also periodically organize exchange visits, meetings, and cultural programs to make organic farming popular in the area.
A community learning/knowledge centre, which will keep the participants of the project connected and anchored, will be formalized. A library will be set up within the centre for use of everyone in the locality. The knowledge developed by participating households will be documented in participatory method and made available for everyone else. The community centre will function as a meeting place for the villagers.
Impact of the project: The majority of the project beneficiaries are women who belong to the matriarchal Garo society. This has a particular significance. In Bangladeshi, women’s contribution in general is not recognized. Contrarily, in the Garo society, women have a strong voice, they are visible, and a role model to the rest of the country. They are the ones who can make a big difference in Modhupur. Their engagement in organic farming will improve the soil quality; make use of compost popular; make people aware of the adverse effects of excessive use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers and hormones; contribute in reducing the use of chemical fertilizers; make people aware of the significance of the natural forest patches and local species; and engage people in collecting polythene and plastic containers and dispose of them safely (a small action that will provoke larger thoughts).
The Story of Tea Workers Book Launched
Prof. Wahiduddin Mahmud, eminent economist and chief guest, formally launched the book at the VIP lounge of the National Press Club in Dhaka. In his introductory note Philip Gain, SEHD director and editor of the book, reflected on the challenging task of producing the book, a 44-minute documentary film and a photography exhibition.
Prof. Wahiduddin Mahmud, eminent economist and chief guest formally launched the book at the VIP lounge of the National Press Club in Dhaka. In his introductory note Philip Gain, SEHD director and editor of the book, reflected on the challenging task of producing the book, a 44-minute documentary film and a photography exhibition.
Presided by SEHD chairman Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan, designated speakers who spoke at the discussion on the book and issues covered in it were Khushi Kabir, Prof. Amena Mohsin, cairman of the Minimum Wages Board,Ikteder Ahmed, member of Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA, organization of the tea estate owners) M Shah Alam, Adivasi leader Gidison Pradhan Suchiang, labor leaders Tapan Datta and Rambhajan Koiri.
Representatives from government and non-government organizations, tea workers, researchers, students, and journalists attended the launch.
The book, Story of the Tea Workers (Cha Sramiker Katha), is about the indentured tea plantation workers, one of the most marginalized and excluded communities of Bangladesh. The issues covered in this book include the history of the tea industry, the ownership of tea estates, socio-economic status of tea workers, their struggle for rights, their health and education status and laws relating to tea industry among others. In addition to information and analysis that is the result of years of investigation by SEHD staff, the book contains insightful write-ups tea industry by labor leaders, lawyers, physicians and government officials.