Formulate law to end discrimination
Dalit leaders urge govt
Leaders of the Dalit community yesterday placed a ten-point demand, including formulation of a law to eliminate racial discrimination, to protect the rights of Dalits and other deprived communities.
They also drew the prime minister's attention to ending discrimination against them and fulfilling her pledges for the development of these communities.
They were speaking at a press conference organised by National Federation for Dalit Movement, an alliance of seven organisations working for Dalit and Harijan communities, at Jatiya Press Club in the city.
The conference marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Manusher Jonno Foundation, Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and 10 other non-government bodies were assisting the alliance.
“We have been deprived of the rights to education, employment opportunities, sanitation and accommodation facilities for years. “We want such discrimination to end,” said Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad Secretary General Nirmol Chandra Das at the conference.
Although the people of Dalit communities have been working as sweepers and cleaners in different city corporations and municipalities for years, their jobs were not regularised, he said.
Bangladesh Dalit Parishad General Secretary Ashok Das said they were leading inhumane lives due to lack of water, proper sanitation and accommodation facilities.
Their other demands include formulation of a policy to incorporate deprived communities in development activities, keeping special quotas for them in educational institutes and the job sector, including them in different safety net programmes, allocating Khas land for their accommodation and formation of a “Dalit Commission”.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments