Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad at a discussion yesterday demanded that dignity be ensured for all underprivileged people in the country.
Speaking at the discussion at the auditorium of Bangladesh Medical Association in the capital, they also said despite the fact that the constitution says to establish equal opportunities for all citizens, the reality speaks differently.
The discussion was a part of a day-long event organised by the Harijan Oikya Parishad along with NGOs Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and FAIR to promote equality for all.
A large number of underprivileged people like Harijans, Dalits, indigenous people, sex workers, transgender people, physically and mentally challenged people and more suffer discrimination both socially and nationally based on their situation and condition.
To tackle this, they also demanded the approval of the Elimination of Discrimination Act.
The proposed act, the draft of which was presented for the first time at the discussion by FAIR Director Dewan Aktharuzzaman, was prepared by the Law Commission with the assistance of Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), FAIR and MJF, the FAIR director told the Dhaka Tribune.
The draft proposed that any kind of discrimination against any people considering their caste, class, gender, sex, physical condition, age, birth, birth place, occupation, etc should be considered illegal and punishable offence.
Expressing solidarity with the Harijan Oikya Parishad, ASK Executive Director Sultana Kamal said: “It is unfortunate that we need to create an act to eliminate discrimination. But it is also true that if such an act is implemented, people will get a legal framework to protest discrimination and demand punishment when they face discrimination.
“There are a lot of work to be done to uphold the true sense of liberation, and ensuring equal rights for every citizen regardless of gender, caste, religion, physical condition, etc is a significant step in that direction. We demand not only the approval of the act, but also its full implementation,” she said at the discussion.
The draft act has been sent to the Ministry of Law, which will place it before the cabinet, the FAIR director told the Dhaka Tribune.
Presided over by Harijan Oikya Parishad President Krishnalal, the organisation’s Secretary General Nirmal Chandra Das, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President Kajal Debnath and MJF Director Rina Ray also spoke at the discussion.
The programme began with a rally and ended with a cultural programme following the discussion.