Chunnu seeks PM intervention to stop harijan eviction in old Dhaka

Chunnu seeks PM intervention to stop harijan eviction in old Dhaka

Sangsad Bhaban, June 12 - Opposition Chief Whip Mujibul Huq Chunnu on Wednesday urged the prime minister not to evict the harijans of old Dhaka before providing  them with alternative housing.

“I will ask the Leader of the House not to evict them on humanitarian grounds until alternative arrangements are made,” he said while speaking in Parliament on an unscheduled discussion.

Opposition Chief Whip mentioned that harijan community people have been living and serving in some areas of Dhaka city for decades.

Pointing to the eviction campaign in Mironjilla Colony near Aga Sadek Road of Bangshal in Old Dhaka, he said, about 3000 harijan community people have been living here for many years.

“Dhaka South City Corporation wants to build market in the area where they live,” Chunnu said and mentioned that it is true that these people do not own the place though.

“But they have been in this place of the City Corporation for ages, they have already demanded alternative arrangements before evicting them.”

The Opposition Chief Whip said that harijan children lay on the streets when the eviction drive began yesterday. “For which evacuation was not possible,” he said.

Referring to the corruption case against former National Board of Revenue (NBR) Commissioner Wahida Rahman he said, a tax commissioner waived Tk 170 crore of four mobile companies including Grameen Phone.

“Where are the NBR chairman, finance secretary and finance minister? For the sake of the country, it should be looked at properly,” Chunnu added.-UNB