There has been no water in Mahalee village, village of ethnic minority group in Rajshahi, for a long time. Often, people of the village have to travel a half-kilometre or one kilometre to procure drinking water
Women of ethnic minority group face various harassment and female folks often face accidents and suffer from pain in their waists during carrying pitcherful water. Often, they had to purchase water from far away sources and it was not possible for poor people to buy water and drink that.
Against this backdrop, members of the Mahalee community as well as people of the Mahalee village formed a human chain at the Zero point of Shaheb Bazaar in Rajshahi on Wednesday.
Mahali Bansh-Bet Unnayan Sangathon, Barendra Region Youth organisation Forum and BARSIC jointly organised the human chain. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi.
Presided over by Mahalee Adibashi female leader Chichilia Hembrom, the programme was addressed by members of Mahalee Adibashi Bansh Bet Unnayan Sangathan Rina Tudu, Monika Tudu, Jestina Tudu, Sheikh Tasnim Jamal, General Secretary of Rajshahi Raskha Sangram Parishad Jamat Khan, Adibashi leader Subash Chandra Hembrom, BARSIC Researcher and Regional Coordinator Shahidul Islam and President of Youth Action for Social Change Shamiul Alim Shaon. Mahalee leader Chichilia Hembrom said tby making handicrafts using bamboo and cane, each of them can somehow earn nearly Tk 300 a day and it was not possible for them to purchase water from that meagre income.
RRSP Gen Secy Jamat Khan called upon the concerned organisations to resolve the crisis of water for the Mahalee community people.