Harijans demand equal social rights

The human chain was formed from Patkelghata to Shobhashuni on both sides of Satkhira- Khulna road.

Earlier they submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner to press their 22- point demand.

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They also held a discussion meeting at Patkelghata auditorium in Tala upazila, where the speakers said the Harijans are facing all sorts of racial discrimination in the country and are deprived of basic rights ensured by the Constitution.

They vowed to launch agitation to realise the demands, denied by the civil society in absence of their enforcement by the government.

The demands include implementation of Sections 27 and 28 of Constitution, treatment like other communities, reserved seats in public universities, quota in government service, their inclusion in development activities, representation in local bodies, bank loan on easy terms, allotment of khas lands and punishment to those violating their rights.

They also demanded declaration of March 21 as a government holiday for eliminating racial discrimination. The programmes were organised by ' Paritran', a local NGO.

Paritran President Uday Kumar Das presided over the meeting, addressed by, among others, Dr. Hamida Hossain, vice-president of RIB, an NGO; Dr Meghna Guha Thakurata of Dhaka University; Principal Asit Kumar Majumdar; Rafiqul Islam of Rupantar, an NGO; Milan Das of Paritran and Sardar Gias Uddin.

Dr Hamida Hossain called upon all sections in the society to come forward to guarantee equal social rights of the Harijans.

Meghna Guha Thakurata called upon the government to enact laws to ensure their rights.