A roundtable here yesterday emphasised the importance of mainstreaming the indigenous women’s movement to ensure their basic rights.

The roundtable also suggested the indigenous women leaders to create awareness among people about the discrepancies they are facing now and involve politicians and policymakers in the issue to have a quick solution.

Economists, politicians and indigenous and women leaders joined the roundtable titled ‘National Women Development Policy: Rights of Indigenous Women’.

Parbatiya Chattagram Mohila Samiti and the Hill Women Federation jointly organised the roundtable at Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon.

“The indigenous women movement needs to be mainstreamed and their leaders should come up with their programmes,” Ayesha Khanam, president of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, told the roundtable.

Emphasising the need for proper implementation of the peace accord, Ayesha Khanam said there should be a change in “our political attitude and ideology” to ensure the fundamental rights of the indigenous women. “Quota in the Public Service Commission will have to be increased for the indigenous women,” she said.

Awami League leader Dr Dipu Moni said it is the responsibility of the state to take steps to remove the disparities against indigenous women.

She suggested the women leaders to work unitedly to create awareness among the country’s political leaders.

Prof Abul Barkat of Dhaka University said the indigenous people should launch a knowledge-based movement with a long-term policy to protect their rights through formulating a unanimous women development policy for the country.

The organisers of the roundtable demanded implementation of their 10-point recommendation, including setting aside seats in parliament for the indigenous people, ensuring the participation of indigenous women in national and local development and keeping seats reserved in local government in predominantly tribal areas.

General secretary of Bangladesh Adibasi Forum Sanjib Drong, women leader Farida Akther, researcher Meghna Guha Thakurata and former Principal of Eden College Prof Hannana Begum, among others, spoke at the function.