A group of miscreants swooped on the residents of Mironzilla Sweeper Colony in Bangshal, resulting in injuries to 30 people, including children.
The incident occurred at around 12pm on Wednesday when several outsiders began pelting stones and brickbats at the colony.
Residents reported that after multiple failed attempts to evict the residents, the attack was launched to intimidate them.
They alleged that MA Awal Hossain, councilor of Ward 33, orchestrated these attacks on the Harijan community.
Harijan community leaders, speaking to journalists, revealed that Muniruzzaman, an executive magistrate from the property department of DSCC, claimed that he came to hand over keys to 66 residents of the Harijan community in a newly constructed building on Wednesday morning.
When the magistrate came to the colony to speak to the writ petitioner Ainunnahar Lipi, Ward 33 Councillor MA Awal entered the colony with a large force of about 150 people.
The magistrate was requested not to allow them to enter.
However, the councillor's force tried to enter forcibly, leading to a scuffle. They attacked with sharp weapons, rods, bricks and bamboo sticks.
A chase and counter chase ensued between the two groups for about an hour.
Despite the talk of keys handover, an application signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DSCC was found which requested police force deployment for the eviction of the residents.
It was observed at the spot that members of police were deployed around the colony.
Regarding this, Muniruzzaman, the executive magistrate from the property department of DSCC, said he was unaware of the eviction notice mentioned in the letter dated Tuesday.
Muniruzzaman said that he came to check the utility services of the new building.
Demanding the arrest of the councillor and his force, Harijan Ekota Samiti leader Seema Das said on Wednesday night that they are preparing to file a case over the incident and seek exemplary punishment for the attackers.
Vandalized area
While visiting the scene, it was seen that the temple inside the colony had been vandalized. About 30 young men, women, and children were injured, with 15 receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Sumit Das, a resident of the colony, reported the attack via a text message: "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."
Supreme Court asks DSCC to maintain status quo on eviction of Harijan communityThe duty officer at Bangshal Police Station said: "As soon as we received the 999 call, we dispatched police teams."
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Bangshal Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Moinul Islam said: "We visited 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."
Harijan community members protest DSCC mayor’s remarksTop court issues status quo
Following the incident, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed DSCC to maintain the status quo on the eviction process of the residents of the Harijan community in Mironjilla Colony near Aga Sadek Road of Bangshal in Old Dhaka.
The apex court order has been verbally communicated to the DSCC Executive Magistrate Md Moniruzzaman, according to BLAST (Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust).
Petitioners' lawyer Barrister Aneek R Haque said that following a writ petition filed by his clients, the High Court on June 13 issued a one-month status quo on the eviction proceedings at the colony and ordered the DSCC to arrange accommodation for the affected residents.
The DSCC filed a leave to appeal petition with the Appellate Division challenging the High Court order.
The apex court is scheduled to hold hearing on the DSCC's petition on Thursday.
Harijan community attacked in Bangshal, 15 injuredDSCC mayor’s remarks spark protest
Meanwhile, the residents of Mironjilla Harijan Colony have protested Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh’s remarks where he termed the community’s children as members of teen gangs and as drug dealers.
They said their children, despite facing countless challenges, are pursuing education in various institutions across the city. Yet the DSCC mayor wrongfully labelled their children as members of teen gangs.
They were speaking at a press conference to protest against the DSCC mayor’s remarks.
They demanded an immediate halt to the evictions and the permanent assignment of the Mironjilla land to the colony's residents.
During the press conference, they said that 400 years ago, a compassionate woman named Miron Bai donated land in Old Dhaka for their ancestors to reside in what is now known as Mironjilla Harijan Colony. This address has been the permanent home for nearly 6,000 residents since then.
They further said that they live crammed into 8/10 sqft rooms with 3/4 families each, yet neither they are island dwellers nor a displaced community; they are citizens of this country.
Despite working in important divisions of the DSCC, they lack security, the protesters said.
What happened earlier
According to sources from the property department of DSCC, the corporation owns about 3.27 acres of land in Mironjilla Sweeper Colony.
On 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 councilor 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 4, the residents of the colony were informed that some families in the Mironjilla Harijan Colony would be evicted to make way for a multistory market, necessitating the demolition of about 20 houses. The next day, without notice, a magistrate commenced the eviction with two bulldozers and four platoons of riot police. The eviction was halted due to the resistance from the locals.
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.
