Govt calls for avoiding word ‘adivasi’

The government has observed that ‘there exist no adivasis in the country’, and urged the media as well as the civil society not to use the word to mention the communities who are defined as ‘ethnic minorities’ in the constitution.
A circular issued by the Information Ministry on Thursday asked the media to avoid the use of the word ‘adivasi’ in different programmes, discussions and talk-shows that will be aired on the occasion of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Day on August 9.
Civil society members, including university teachers, experts and newspaper editors, have also been asked to be aware about avoiding the use of the word ‘adivasi’ while participating in the discussions and talk-shows, the circular added.
The circular said the word ‘adivasi’ has frequently been used on various occasions, particularly on the UN Indigenous Peoples’ Day, although there exists no ‘adivasis’ in the country as per the 15th amendment to the constitution.
In the 15th amendment, minority ethnic communities in Bangladesh have been referred to as ‘tribes’ or ‘ethnic minorities’, the circular added.