Caritas in Dhaka brings together politicians and indigenous leaders to discuss land and rights

In line with the Church’s commitment to social justice. Eroded land is “not merely a resource”: it is linked to identity and survival. The “indissoluble” link between territorial rights and biodiversity was emphasised, as were the issues surrounding “eco-parks”. A call for concrete measures.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) – For many indigenous families in Bangladesh, land is much more than a material asset. Yet, in the hills as well as on the plains, it is gradually being eroded.

These concerns were addressed during a seminar on the theme “Land, the rights of indigenous peoples and the protection of biodiversity”, held on 21 June at the Caritas Development Institute in Dhaka, as part of the Bangladesh Agroecology Platform (BAP), a network of NGOs of which Caritas Bangladesh is one of the main promoters.

The meeting brought together a total of 48 policy-makers, Church-affiliated development workers, researchers and representatives of indigenous peoples, creating a valuable space in which community voices were able to engage directly with officials and decision-makers.

“The land is not merely a resource for indigenous peoples: it is linked to their identity and their survival,” said Sanjeeb Drong, a Catholic and president of Indigenous Peoples Development Services (IPDS), highlighting the ever-diminishing access to traditional lands and the risks this poses to the lives of communities.

The speakers repeatedly emphasised the close and “indissoluble” relationship between the territorial rights of indigenous peoples and biodiversity: for generations, communities have protected forests and ecosystems through traditional, environmentally friendly practices. However, many groups do not hold formal title deeds, leaving them vulnerable to eviction. Across Bangladesh, development projects, tourism and so-called ‘eco-parks’ have led to the loss of ancestral lands.

Participants cited concrete examples, including communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and coastal regions, where families face displacement or have already lost their land to commercial development. According to data shared during the seminar, around three million indigenous people live in Bangladesh; the majority continue to depend heavily on land and forest resources for their livelihoods.

Organised by Caritas Bangladesh, the initiative reflects the Church’s broader commitment to social justice, environmental protection and the dignity of marginalised communities. In his closing address, Caritas’s executive director, Daud Jibon Das, emphasised that land rights and biodiversity are not separate issues, but “an important component of national development”.

Church-backed platforms, such as the BAP, aim to bring together various stakeholders – government officials, civil society and local communities – in a spirit of dialogue and shared responsibility. This approach echoes Catholic social teaching on the care of Creation and the preferential option for people living in poverty.

Beyond political discussions, the seminar gave ample space to real-life experiences. Indigenous participants spoke of land disputes, the risks of displacement and the degradation of the forests that once sustained their communities.

Former government adviser Farida Akhter expressed concern about what she described as ongoing marginalisation, warning that some development initiatives could violate human rights and damage ecosystems. She also questioned the expansion of eco-parks, arguing that they often fail to respect either the environment or the communities that depend on them.

Other speakers highlighted a broader cultural challenge, noting that distorted portrayals of indigenous communities in public discourse contribute to marginalisation and misunderstanding. Experts and participants proposed a series of concrete measures, including the recognition of customary land rights, the establishment of land commissions dedicated to the indigenous peoples of the lowlands, and ensuring that communities give their prior consent to projects affecting their territories.

As Bangladesh grapples with climate change, demographic pressure and competing land-use demands, the stakes are high. Participants agreed that safeguarding the territorial rights of indigenous peoples is not only a matter of justice, but is also essential for conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable development. For communities whose lives are rooted in the land, the issue is urgent and deeply personal. Their message at the Dhaka seminar was clear: without recognition of their rights and knowledge, both human dignity and the natural environment are at risk.