Adivasi Status Reflection from the Ethnic Voices

Abstract

This paper attempts to reveal out the rights and demands of the ethnic people of Bangladesh throughout Adivasi status. Eventually, focuses their reaction regarding identity crisis by termed them subnational unit. This paper is based on the study conducted among the university students of different ethnic groups in the Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalgonj, Bangladesh. The respondents were selected randomly. The term does not focus on the 
geographical location of a specific community; it is a self-designation and prestigious nominal identity. In the Indian Subcontinent, Adivasi are considered as the original inhabitants. There is a debate between major and minor groups. In Bangladesh, sometimes the word is used for the past inhabitants of Chittagong hill tracts and other parts of Bangladesh who are usually well known as ethnic minorities. The debate is a political issue and becoming popular throughout media visibility. Different terms are used to introduce ethnic groups of Bangladesh since independence. Earlier they were known as ‘upajati’, in the 1990s and early 2000s they were highlighted as ‘Adivasi’, and lastly, since the 15th amendment in 2011 they were introduced constitutionally as khudro nrigosthi’. 
This has been making an obscurity and identity crisis among these groups. The respondents claimed that the force settlement and demolish ethnic land right have been continued rather giving Adivasi status, and the military rule has been continuing by the name of development. ILO Convention should be imposed strictly for their actual betterment. They expect a separate identity. They have confused whether they will get the privileges like the mainstream population after getting the status or not, they think this identity will give them prestige. They become confused and find out some reasons for not giving the recognition.