Marginalised people demand involvement in development
Bangladesh Harizan Oikya Parishad forms a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the city protesting exclusion of people belonging to marginalised communities from the national census 2011.Photo: STAR
Representatives of marginalised communities yesterday demanded the government to involve them in the country's development activities by separately identifying them. The representatives from communities including Dalit, indigenous people, Harijan, snake charmers, sex workers and fishermen made the demand at a human chain held in front of Jatiya Press Club in the city. Except for a few communities, the remaining ones have no provision to separately count them in the upcoming census, beginning March 15. For example, questions on the census about indigenous people involve only 27 out of the 45 communities present, they said. Dhaka University Prof Mejbah Kamal; Harijan Oikya Parishad President Krishna Lal; sex workers' representative Razia Sultana; representative of fishermen Bhola Nath Chandra Barman; human rights activists Dewan Akhtaruzzaman and Sharmin Morshed; Mahuwa Leya Faliya of Manusher Jonno Foundation; and representative of indigenous people Sanjib Drong were present.
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