Sweeper community members, different socio-political, religious and cultural organisations and rights groups on Saturday protested against recent attack on Miranzilla Harijan Sweeper Colony in Old Dhaka鈥檚 Bangshal area through protest rallies and processions, demanding exemplary punishment for those involved.
Miranzilla Chhatra-Juba Oikyo Parishad and the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council organised two separate protest rallies in front of the National Press Club in the capital and later brought out a joint procession.
The protesters alleged that the attack was carried out by supporters of the councillor of Ward 33 under the Dhaka South City Corporation, Md Awal Hossain, on July 10 that injured at least 40 people.
Sweepers demanded withdrawal of false and fabricated cases filed against residents of the colony following the attack where several of their houses, including their temple, were vandalised.
They also demanded stopping eviction drives by the DSCC permanently and withdrawal of mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh鈥檚 malicious remarks about the children of the colony.
They also demanded registration of land ownership documents in the name of the residents of Miranzilla Harijan Colony as they had been living in the place for generations.
Bangladesh Harijan Oikyo Parishad president Krishna Lal said that they demanded security and guaranty as well as the assurance that they would not face any eviction again.
He said that as a leader of the city, the DSCC mayor should have visited the colony and its residents to know about their situation.
Referring to the mayor鈥檚 remarks on colony鈥檚 children, Krishna Lal said, 鈥楻espected mayor, you should pay a visit to our colony. Then, you will know the truth.鈥�
He said that although their children were pursuing education in various institutions across the city facing numerous challenges, the mayor wrongfully labelled their children as teen gangs and drug dealers.
In another protest, religious minority leaders condemned the attack on the Miranzilla colony and said that it was unlawful.
They said that more than 10 thousand people had been living in the small houses of the colony for centuries.
They have no right to a permanent living place in the capital where they work in cleaning the city, the protesters said.
Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council president Neem Chandra Bhowmik, its joint general secretary Monindra Kumar Nath, journalist Bashudeb Dhar and others spoke at the event.
Sweeper community people in Chattogram on Saturday, meanwhile, condemned the attack on Miranzilla colony residents and threatened to close all operations of dustcarts for an indefinite period.
