A group of miscreants have launched an attack on the residents of Mironjilla Sweeper Colony in Bangshal, resulting in injuries to 15 people, including children.
Around 12pm on Wednesday, several outsiders began pelting stones and brickbats at the colony.
The residents said after multiple failed attempts to evict them, the attack was launched to intimidate them.
‘Don’t want rehabilitation or compensation, just our land back’They alleged that Awal Hossain, the councillor of Ward 33, is orchestrating these attacks on the Harijan community.
Sumit Das, a resident of the colony, reported the attack via a text message, said: "They had been gathering inside the Bir Sreshtho Matiur Rahman School since morning. This attack was carried out as per previous plan. Please help us."
While visiting the scene, it was seen that there were broken chairs and brickbats lying on the temple while glass windows of multiple buildings were shattered.
At the time of writing this report, multiple police teams have arrived at the scene.
The duty officer at Bangshal Police Station said: "As soon as we received the 999 call, we dispatched police teams. The officer-in-charge (OC) is also heading to the scene."
Gopibagh sweeper colony residents facing eviction despite minister's promise of rehabilitationSpeaking to Dhaka Tribune, OC Moinul Islam said: "We are still at the scene. Authorities from Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have also arrived. The situation is now under control. Action will be taken after investigating who is behind this. Initially, we are speaking with everyone."
Regarding the allegations against the councillor, he said: "As a representative of DSCC, he is present in the area. He will operate as a representative of the city corporation. However, it is too early to comment on this attack. We will confirm after the investigation."
After repeated attempts to contact Awal Hossain, councillor of Ward 33, his personal assistant answered the call and said he (Awal) was busy before hanging up.
According to sources from the property department of DSCC, the corporation owns about 3.27 acres of land in Mironjilla Sweeper Colony.
High Court issues 30-day status quo on eviction of Harijan communityOn July 2, 2019, the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission requested the local government secretary not to construct any commercial buildings or markets on the land of Mironjilla Harijan City Colony.
On July 5 of that year, former planning minister MA Mannan wrote a letter to the then mayor of DSCC Sayeed Khokon, requesting the resolution of the job and housing issues of the colony residents.
On May 16, 2022, the Harijan Sebak Samiti requested the mayor of DSCC to solve the housing crisis by constructing five 10-story buildings.
On the same day, the councillor of ward 33 of south city, Awal Hossain, also requested the mayor to build five 10-story buildings in Mironjilla Harijan Sweeper Colony.
On June 13, the High Court ordered the authorities concerned to refrain from evicting the Harijan community on Aga Khan Road in the city's Bongshal area until alternative accommodation is ensured for them.
The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the eviction drive at Harijan Colony without taking any measure for their accommodation should not be declared illegal.
The residents of the colony said that their ancestors were brought from India, believed to be around Kanpur and Bihar regions, 400 years ago to work in sanitation.
Currently, over 500 families live in the colony in a small space. Most of the family members are employed in sanitation work by the city corporation. Some have died, and others have been dismissed from their jobs.
All Harijan community members have this colony listed as their permanent or temporary address on their national ID cards.
