No hostility towards Harijans, please!

Human rights have long been a buzzword globally. Most of the countries have committed to the protection of human rights through the adoption and ratification of different international statutes. However, how a state or society accepts human rights in its thinking is reflected in how it treats the citizens, particularly those of weak and backward classes. Bangladesh's record of human rights protection is not enviable as we see in different international reports. The country has its own version about the protection of rights. A recent incident has, however, brought to the fore how much the authorities here are committed to the protection of the weak section of society. The incident involves Dhaka South City Corporation's eviction of the Harijan community from a centuries-old colony at Bangshal in the capital.
The mindless eviction drive, which forced residents of Miranzilla Harijan Colony to take refuge in a temple and school, has shocked the conscience of every sensible citizen of the country. The displacement from the place where they have been living for generations has caused unfathomable agony to them with the elderly people, children and women suffering the most. We are unable to imagine how much trouble the displaced people are facing to feed their children thrice a day after they lost their houses and belongings. Most public places, including restaurants and shops are off limit to them since they are treated as the 'untouchable'. The Harijans live an inhuman life in their shanty-like houses with their scant income and isolation from mainstream society, but they hardly complain. Now the authorities are driving them out of their shelters without making an alternative arrangement for their living.
The Harijans were previously called Dalit (meaning oppressed, broken), who are considered untouchable for their status at the lowest level of the Hindu caste hierarchy. They began to be called Harijan (literally children of God), a term coined by a Gujarati poet-saint of the Bhakti tradition, to give an impression that they are equal to others. But the lot of the Harijan people suggests the new term has contributed little to changing their position in society. The Harijans in Bangladesh have their roots in different parts of India. They were brought here during the British rule to be engaged in cleaning, sweeping, tea gardening, land clearing, etc. Since then, they have been somehow living in colonies provided by local authorities.
The city authorities are saying the land the Harijan people are living on belongs to the city corporation. Their claim may be genuine but these did not illegally occupy the place, they were allowed to settle there, maybe, without entitlement right. But they have been living there for centuries and this gives them their right to the land. Yet they can be evicted but not before their proper rehabilitation. The city authorities have gone overboard to drive out a community that renders a service without which the city may collapse.
The city authorities' eviction of Harijan people is neither logical nor consistent with the government's plan and efforts to arrange shelter for everyone. The government has built hundreds of thousands of houses for homeless people and also plans to construct many more. Against such a backdrop, forcing the Harijans out of their houses is unacceptable. Anyway, it is good to know that the High Court has halted the eviction drive. Now the authorities should take urgent measures to reconstruct their shacks they have bulldozed so that the displaced people can return to their shelters.

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