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Dignified life and human rights still out of reach

Members of Dalit and Harijan communities say

Staff Correspondent
Belonging to the lowest tier of the society, Dalits and Harijans have been lagging behind in every sphere of life, including education, health and employment - not getting even the least opportunities to thrive.
In the run-up to any national election, political parties target them as “vote bank" but they are the ones who fall victim to violence surrounding election, speakers said at a programme at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.
The discussion was organised by Bangladesh Dalit Parishad and Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad with support from Manusher Jonno Foundation. It was aimed at drawing attention of all political parties so that demands and expectations of the minority communities are reflected in their election manifestos.
As many as 1 crore Dalits and Harijans are now living in the country, facing deprivation and discrimination everywhere and by all, including by upper caste Hindus who treat them as untouchables, speakers said.
Forty-seven years have passed since the Liberation War, but the contribution of Dalits and Harijans to the nation's independence has not yet been recognised, said Dalit leader Milon Das who delivered the keynote speech.
Dignified life and human rights that their previous generations aspired for through independence are still out of reach, he added.
In a statement, leaders of Dalit and Harijan communities demanded enact-
ment of an anti-discriminatory law and rights to land and education.
They also demanded a pledge from all political parties participating in the upcoming national election that people of the communities would not be attacked or threatened and that they would not face pre-and post-polls loss of properties and rights violation.
Shahriar Kabir, president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, who attended as a guest speaker at the event, said as long as we have a state religion, some people would be regarded as minority and the rest, majority.
"Which is why we need special measures to shield minorities from rights violation," he added.
The rights situation of Dalits and Harijans is worse since the upper caste Hindus also regard them with disdain; the age-old perception of caste must be left behind. No one should be discriminated against fortheir work, Kabir said.
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee demanded formation of a ministry for minorities and a minority protection act to ensure rights of the minority communities including Dalits and Harijans.
"We have a ministry of religious affairs which allocates Tk 11 for a Muslim and Tk 2 for a Hindu, Buddhist or Christian,” Kabir added.
Speakers from the communities said their representation in the parliament is necessary so that their issues come up for discussion and get addressed.