Tejgaon slum dwellers urge DCC to stop eviction drive until Eid
Friday, 4 September 2009
FE Report
The slum dwellers of Tejgaon industrial area have appealed to the Dhaka City Corporation not to displace them during Ramadan on humanitarian grounds.
"Where will we go now?" said Abdur Rahim a resident of one of the shanties built illegally beside the road and on empty plots at the city's prime industrial zone.
He said it would be very hard for their family members to find a new shelter in this holy month of Ramadan and added, "We urge the DCC to let us live here till Eid-ul-Fitr on compassionate grounds."
"We are appealing to the authority assuring our cooperation in peaceful evacuation afterwards," he added.
Responding to the written appeal of Rahman Metal Industries, the city corporation initiated steps to evict illegal slum dwellers from in and around the industry.
Earlier, similar evacuation attempt by the city corporation was challenged and the drive postponed in the face of protest of the slum dwellers of the area. Rahman Metal Industries in its appeal to the DCC complained that the slums were dens of illegal and anti-social activities, breeding crime and hindering goods transportation to and from the industry.
Talking to the FE, a local Jubo Dal leader, Ananda Shah, who pursued the city corporation authority for the evacuation, said he urged the authority to consider the slum dwellers appeal in honour of Ramadan.
The slum dwellers of Tejgaon industrial area have appealed to the Dhaka City Corporation not to displace them during Ramadan on humanitarian grounds.
"Where will we go now?" said Abdur Rahim a resident of one of the shanties built illegally beside the road and on empty plots at the city's prime industrial zone.
He said it would be very hard for their family members to find a new shelter in this holy month of Ramadan and added, "We urge the DCC to let us live here till Eid-ul-Fitr on compassionate grounds."
"We are appealing to the authority assuring our cooperation in peaceful evacuation afterwards," he added.
Responding to the written appeal of Rahman Metal Industries, the city corporation initiated steps to evict illegal slum dwellers from in and around the industry.
Earlier, similar evacuation attempt by the city corporation was challenged and the drive postponed in the face of protest of the slum dwellers of the area. Rahman Metal Industries in its appeal to the DCC complained that the slums were dens of illegal and anti-social activities, breeding crime and hindering goods transportation to and from the industry.
Talking to the FE, a local Jubo Dal leader, Ananda Shah, who pursued the city corporation authority for the evacuation, said he urged the authority to consider the slum dwellers appeal in honour of Ramadan.