Ain O Salish Kendra, a rights organisation, on Wednesday expressed concern over the forced shutdown of eateries in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country during the daytime in the month of Ramadan.
In a press release, signed by ASK chairperson lawyer ZI Khan Panna, the ASK听 urged the government and the authorities concerned to take steps to prevent overenthusiastic individuals from making any illegal calls to shut down eateries and forcibly shutting down any eateries during the month.
Referring to media reports, it said that an unwanted ban had been imposed by a certain group on keeping food shops open during the daytime in different parts of the country to 鈥榩reserve the sanctity鈥� of Ramadan.
Sick individuals, children, day labourers and people of different faiths are suffering much as owners of the eateries have kept their establishments closed in these areas fearing for their safety, said the release.
The press release said that a group of people under the banner of 鈥楽ammilita Muslim Janata鈥� held rallies in different places before the beginning of Ramadan while a senior leader of a religion-based political party issued a statement urging authorities to take effective measures to close hotels and restaurants during the daytime.
鈥榃e have observed that following such rallies and statements, eateries in many areas, including Dhaka, are being forced to shut down,鈥� said the press release.
The holy month of Ramadan is a time for mutual empathy and compassion and, therefore, neither unwanted interference in a fundamental necessity such as food nor forced closure of eateries is acceptable, said ASK.
Such insensitive and unrealistic calls not only create divisions in society but also appear to be attempts to violate people鈥檚 fundamental rights, added the press release.
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