Khagrachhari, Jan 14, (V7N) - The Greater Chittagong Hill Tracts Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) held a press conference in Madhupur, Khagrachhari, on Tuesday (January 14, 2025) to protest the NCTB's decision to remove graffiti containing the word "Adivasi" from textbooks and the lack of constitutional recognition for indigenous peoples. The event was organized by the Central Committee of the UPDF (Democratic)-backed PCP, where the organization voiced five key demands for tribal recognition.

Colin Chakma, General Secretary of the PCP Central Committee, read a written statement during the press conference. Other notable attendees included Bijoy Chakma (Central Deputy General Secretary), Babu Chakma (Organizing Secretary), and Preeti Chakma (President of Khagrachhari Government Women’s College PCP), along with other leaders and activists.

In his statement, Colin Chakma questioned the existence of discrimination in Bangladesh, a secular state, stressing that no nation can achieve true progress by neglecting indigenous communities. He urged the government to provide constitutional recognition and guarantee the rights of indigenous peoples across Bangladesh, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The PCP demanded the immediate and full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, viewing it as a symbol of hope for the region's people. They also called on the NCTB to restore indigenous words in educational materials and to include detailed content in secondary textbooks to safeguard the education, culture, traditions, and identity of indigenous communities.

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