Dhaka: On June 14, the Bangladesh National Hindu Mohajot organised a human chain and protest rally against the recent vandalism and eviction in the Hindu Harijan village under the Bansal police station in Dhaka. The protest was in response to the destruction of over 100 homes, including the vandalism of doors, windows, and furniture, along with looting and forced eviction.
Leaders Speak Out
The protest rally, held under the leadership of Hindu Mahajot President Adv. Deenbandhu Roy, Govinda Chanda Pramanik, general secretary, featured addresses from several key figures including Vice President Pradeep Das Hela, Executive President Vipul Biswas, Organizing Secretary Kishore Kumar Barman, and other prominent leaders such as Sanjay Folia, Abhay Roy, Shyamal Ghosh, Tolan Pal, Gautam Sarkar Apu, Jaydev Kumar Joy, Sanjay Debnath, Sajib Kundu, Ujjal Malakar, Niloy Pal, Uppal Bhowmik, Pallab Das, and Sajib Das.
Historical Context and Current Plight
Speakers highlighted the long-standing presence of the Harijan Hindu community in Dhaka, noting that they have lived there for nearly 200 years and are crucial to the city’s sanitation. Despite their essential role, the community faces ongoing deprivation of basic needs such as adequate food, clothing, shelter, and education. The speakers condemned the Dhaka City Corporation for failing to provide necessary facilities and pointed out the repeated displacement of Harijans from various locations, including previous evictions from Dhalpur and the Robidas neighborhood in Chittagong.
Calls for Government Action
The protestors emphasized the stark contrast between the treatment of Harijans and other communities, such as the Rohingyas who have been provided shelter and support by the government. They demanded that the government halt all evictions in Harijan villages and instead provide improved housing and basic amenities by constructing multi-storied buildings. Additionally, they called for the return of property allegedly taken from the Hindu community by former IGP Benazir Ahmed and the re-establishment of reserved seats and a separate election system in the National Assembly to ensure fair representation and justice.
Demands for Justice and Representation
The rally underscored the community’s call for the establishment of special tribunals to prosecute those responsible for the vandalism of temples and idols. They also demanded that the rights and representation of all communities be ensured within the national governance framework.
This protest by the Bangladesh National Hindu Mohajot reflects the ongoing struggle of the Hindu Harijan community for basic rights and recognition. The organisers and participants urged immediate government intervention to prevent further injustices and to provide the Harijan community with the dignity and facilities they deserve.
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