By Monika Paik and Champa Mallick, from Shyamnagar, Satkhira
On the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, a discussion meeting was held in Burigoalini Union of Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira, on the theme “The Role of Indigenous Women in Preserving and Developing Traditional Knowledge.” The meeting took place on 9 August 2025 at the Burigoalini Ashrayan Project, organized by BARCIK in collaboration with Green Coalition and the local community residents of the Ashrayan Project.
The event was moderated by Monika Paik, Associate Program Officer of BARCIK, and chaired by Anandini Munda, Vice-President of the Datinakhali Munda Organization.
The chief guest, Shefali Bibi, President of the Datinakhali Women’s Forest-Based Development Organization, said, “Equal rights in all public and private services must be ensured. We cannot lose hope; indigenous women must come forward persistently through continuous communication and advocacy to claim their rights.”
Shivani Munda, a young girl from the Burigoalini Ashrayan Project, said, “We are constantly victims of exploitation, deprivation, and discrimination. How long will this continue? We want our rights to our language, culture, and land. The government must take special initiatives for the socio-economic development of indigenous peoples.”
Members of the Burigoalini Ashrayan Project and representatives of Green Coalition were present at the meeting.
