The Santal and other Indigenous communities gathered in front of Bangladesh’s parliament to celebrate the election of a fellow Santal. The oppressed “tribal peoples of Bangladesh and India will find inspiration” in her election. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is asked to invite her to visit the country as soon as possible.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – The election of a tribal woman, Draupadi Murmu, as the fifteenth president of India was welcomed by tribal communities even beyond India’s borders.
In Bangladesh, a hundred Bangladeshi Christians from different tribal groups expressed their joy by staging a rally in front of Bangladesh’s national parliament in Dhaka.
Elected with the support of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Murmu, 64, took office today in New Delhi. She hails from the state of Odisha and is an ethnic Santal, who are also present in Bangladesh.
Santal, Garo, Oraon and other tribal leaders spoke at the Dhaka gathering, moderated by columnist and cultural activist Sanjeeb Drong.
"Today is a day of joy,” Drong said. “We do not want to talk about grief. The election of Draupadi Murmu as president will also be an encouragement and motivation for all the oppressed Indigenous peoples of Bangladesh, including the Santal. I congratulate her on behalf of the tribal people of Bangladesh."
Prof Mesbah Kamal, from the Department of History of the University of Dhaka, also spoke at the gathering.
“Tribal people are victims of deprivation,” he said. “With Draupadi Murmu becoming president of India, the tribal peoples of Bangladesh and India will find inspiration. They will be able to gradually assert their rights.”
Members of the Santal tribal community also spoke at the event, singing in the Santal language and dancing. “We Indigenous people are very happy,” said Santal leader Ench Hansda. “It is a matter of pride for us, Santal of Bangladesh.”
“There are 12 clans among the Santal, and the Murmu are one of them,” he explained. “India is home to 1.3 billion people and the highest office in the land is held by one of us.
“I ask Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to invite Draupadi Murmu as soon as possible for a state visit to our country.”