The government is set to introduce a special allowance programme for the Oraon and Mahato ethnic minorities, fulfilling a pre-election pledge by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to protect the rights, languages, and cultures of all communities living in the plains and hills.
The Cabinet Division has already dispatched a formal letter to the secretary of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to initiate the necessary proceedings.
The proposal for these allowances was first raised by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sirajganj during the DC Conference held last May. The DC highlighted that these two groups are amongst the most marginalised in Sirajganj, suffering from extreme poverty.
He further warned that a rising trend of suicide has been observed within these communities due to their hardships. Without state intervention to cross the poverty line, these groups risk being generationally deprived of education, employment, and social inclusion.
The government has accepted the proposal as part of a broader set of six decisions to be implemented under PMO. While five of these pertain to economic investments, EPZs, and economic zones, the sixth focuses specifically on the welfare of the Oraon and Mahato people.
Mohammad Khorshed Alam Khan, joint secretary of the Cabinet Division (District and Field Administration Wing), stated that the government adopts short-term (one year), medium-term (three years), and long-term (five years) plans based on the importance of proposals received at the DC Conference.
Out of 1,729 proposals submitted from various districts, these specific initiatives were selected after multiple meetings with relevant ministries and authorities.
According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, there are 85,846 members of the Oraon community in Bangladesh, accounting for 5.20% of the country’s total ethnic minority population. They traditionally reside in Barind regions of Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Dinajpur. The Mahato population stands at 19,271, representing approximately 1.17% of the total ethnic minority population.
This welfare move aligns with Tarique Rahman’s vision of a “Rainbow Nation,” a concept he detailed during a national representative assembly of ethnic minorities in Mymensingh last August. He emphasised that BNP is committed to building an inclusive and safe country where diversity is a source of unity.
The prime minister’s broader plan for ethnic minorities includes ensuring representation in Parliament and party committees, establishing cultural research institutes, granting trust status to Tribal Welfare Associations, and providing technical education and easy loans for women entrepreneurs.
He has asserted that if every community remains vigilant regarding national interests, no “evil force” will be able to spread confusion or discord.
