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Sharif Jamil, Bangladeshi Environmentalist: Video Interview June 30th, 2011

“Saving the Indigenous people’s environment in Bangladesh” is a story which highlights the collaborative work of the Missionary Oblates in Bangladesh with one of the country’s environmental leaders in responding to the efforts of indigenous peoples in Bangladesh to preserve their traditional lifestyle and culture.

Sharif Jamil is a Bangladeshi environmental activist who works closely with the Oblate JPIC Coordinator in Bangladesh, Fr. Joseph Gomes, OMI. Sharif is National Coordinator of APRA (Adibasi Poribesh Roskhya Andolon or Save Indigenous Environment Movement), Joint Secretary of BAPA (Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon or Bangladesh Environment Movement), and the Buriganga Riverkeeper. BAPA is the largest national environmental movement in Bangladesh.

Sharif, Fr. Joseph and others have been working with the Garo and Khasi communities to prevent illegal logging in their forests, on which they depend for their survival.

Victory after Long Fight to Save Bangladeshi Indigenous Villages and Forest January 20th, 2010

The indigenous Khasi people of Bangladesh have won a significant victory after a long struggle to protect the forest on which they depend for their survival. The indigenous community organized against rampant logging from a local tea estate owner who had secured permission to log the forest allegedly through his political connections. Thousands of trees and many Khasi villages will be saved as a result.

The Oblates have been supportive of the efforts to protect the forest, with Fr. Joseph Gomes, OMI working closely with the Khasi people. APRA (Adibasi Poribesh Roskhya Andolon or Save Indigenous Environment Movement) of BAPA (Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon or Bangladesh Environment Movement). Fr. Gomes was joined by Sharif Jamil, National Coordinator, APRA, Joint Secretary, BAPA in successfully arguing on behalf of the Khasi people before a government panel charged with investigating the logging controversy.

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Oblates Call for Indigenous People to be included in World Bank Education Programs in Bangladesh October 2nd, 2008

Oblates have engaged the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in discussions on the education programs these institutions are funding in Bangladesh. The Bank recently released a report – “Education for All in Bangladesh – Where does Bangladesh stand in achieving the EFA Goals by 2015?” – which discusses some of the key challenges faced by Bangladesh in achieving the Education for All (EFA) goals and propose policy recommendations that could help towards meeting the goals by 2015.

While commending the Banks’ support for enhancing primary and secondary education in Bangladesh, Joseph Gomes, OMI – JPIC Director for the Oblates in Bangladesh – has questioned whether the Indigenous People with whom he works have seen any benefit from the loans.

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Fall 2008 Issue of JPIC Report Available! September 18th, 2008

The Fall issue of JPIC Report is now available, with hyperlinks to email addresses and websites mentioned in the text. (Download PDF)

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Bangladesh church officials fight to quash priest’s arrest warrant May 12th, 2007

By Anto Akkara Catholic News Service
May 9, 2007

BANGALORE, India (CNS) – Church officials in Bangladesh have been lobbying the government to quash an arrest warrant issued against a missionary priest working among exploited indigenous people.

“We want the government to quash this (case) and take action against those who have registered the fabricated case against (Oblate) Father (Joseph) Gomes,” Oblate Father Emil Moraes told Catholic News Service May 8 from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Father Moraes is Father Gomes’ regional superior.

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