On 13th June at 3:30 pm, in front of the National Press Club, a human chain was organized by the Social Action Committee against recent incidents of police brutality against women and attacks on minority communities.
Dr. Fauzia Moslem, President of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), chaired the event. Maleka Banu, General Secretary of BMP, provided a statement on the event. Representatives from several organizations including Nagorik Uddyog, Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS), The Hunger Project, Dhaka YWCA, National Women Lawyers’ Association, and BLAST also made statements. Sino May Marma, the lawyer representing Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, recounted the eviction of Horijons and shared firsthand information on the incident.
General Secretary Maleka Banu expresses her deep shame at the violation of human rights by those in positions of national administrative power. Each incident serves as a reminder of the need to promote tolerance, awareness, and empathy. She emphasizes the importance of giving priority to the resettlement of minority communities, rather than solely focusing on economic expansion without considering their concerns. She calls for fair trials for all crimes committed and emphasizes the need for a firm commitment to human rights in governing the country.
Speakers expressed concerns about ongoing social oppression faced by women in various sectors, violence and discrimination against minority communities, the effectiveness of committees addressing these issues, and the lack of protection and enforcement by the police. They stressed the need for an inclusive and democratic state and called for the administration to fulfill its responsibilities in preventing incidents, transparent and impartial investigations, and strong punishment for perpetrators.
In her speech, BMP President Dr. Fauzia Moslem addresses the ongoing issue of violence against the horijon community. She points out that these incidents of violence are not new and mentions past occurrences such as attacks on their homes, deaths of women in police custody, and religious-based humiliation. Dr. Fauzia Moslem emphasizes that it is evident that people in the country do not adhere to the law but manipulate it for their own benefit. She requests the immediate suspension of all criminal activities and urges the government and society to collaborate in establishing law and order. Furthermore, she calls for concerted efforts to establish human rights for the Horijon community.
The central and Dhaka Metropolitan Committees, secretarial board, officers, representatives of TUC and Action Aid and a group of journalists were present at the human chain program in Bangladesh.
Advocacy and Lobby secretary Jana Goswami led the event.
