There are several millions of Dalit population mostly belonging to the Hindu religion, living in different parts of Bangladesh and they are often subjected to discrimination by others due to their social status.
To eradicate this discrimination Bangladeshi Dalit communities are demanding recognition as a separate community as well as collection of separate data for the Dalit population in the next census.
To this end, a human chain was formed in Pabna on Saturday, as part of the central programme to realise a five-point demand including inclusion of separate information of Dalit population in Census-2021.
Dalit people including members of Rabidas, Rishi, Kawra, Bede, Nikeri, Dom, Banshphor, Hela and Raut communities took part in the human chain organised by Pabna district committee of Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM) on Abdul Hamid Road in front of Pabna Press Club.
BDERM’s Pabna Committee president Ananda Rabidas, Vice-President Tapan Banshphor, Hemanta Rabidas and General Secretary Dwip Ravidas addressed the human chain among others.
Speakers said that about 96% of the Country’s Dalit population is illiterate or poorly educated. So they are engaged in cleaning work, shoe and leather repair, pig rearing and other occupations. About 65 lakh Dalits belonging to hundreds of different communities live in this country. These communities are suffering from discrimination, untouchability and deprivation due to their identity as Dalits, they added.
