10 indigenous persons in UZ vice chairman race in Rajshahi div

At least ten persons including two women from six indigenous communities are contesting for vice chairman posts in the upazila election in Rajshahi division.

Five of them are from Santal tribe and one each from Razoar, Urao, Munda, Ganju and Rajbansi tribes. Two of them are housewives, one village doctor while the other candidates mentioned agriculture as their profession in the affidavits.

In the affidavit, one indigenous candidate mentioned that he graduated in Social Science, two candidates passed HSC, one passed SSC, five read at high school while one mentioned that he is literate.

Indigenous leaders are participating in local government election for the first time this year, said Rabindranath Saren, general secretary of Jatiya Adibasi Parishad (JAP).

"Such participation will help empowering indigenous people in local government as well as upholding our history of depravity and losses of lives and properties".

JAP sources said 38 different indigenous tribes live in 16 districts of Rajshahi division.

Protima Rani of Razoar tribe and Rushina Soren of Santal are contesting for women vice chairman posts in Nachole upazila in Chapainawabganj and Ghoraghat upazila in Dinajpur district respectively.

Both of them are housewives.

From Santal community, JAP President Anil Marandi who is just literate and BSS degree holder Haren Tudu are contesting from Godagari upazila while HSC pass Paban Mardi from Tanore upazila in Rajshahi district.

Rajbanshi tribe's Sadhan Chandra Barman who mentioned his profession to be a village doctor is contesting from Sariakandi upazila while Zugesh Singh of Ganju tribe from Sherpur upazila in Bogra district.

In Naogaon district, SSC pass Daud Marandi of Santal tribe is contesting from Niamatpur upazila while Hakim Urao from Patnitala and Jobin Pahan of Munda community is contesting from Badalgachhi upazilas.

In last general election, Rabindranath Saren withdrew his candidacy after failing to get grand alliance ticket for Dinajpur-6 constituency. JAP's Romanath Mahato placed fourth as a candidate of Communist Party of Bangladesh from Natore-4 constituency in the December 29 election.

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