Gopibagh Harijan and Telugu Colony in Dhaka continue to face eviction, despite Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan's explicit assurance regarding the construction of multi-storied residential buildings under the railway connection project from Kamalapur to Jessore via Padma Bridge.
The evicted families were promised rehabilitation, and no eviction operation was to be carried out without ensuring their resettlement. However, project officials are currently proceeding with the eviction process.
Project officials visited the colony area on Sunday and Monday, instructing at least 20 more families to evacuate. Necessary preparations, including the arrival of veku machines, have been made for the evacuation operation in the area.
In this situation, the residents of the colony, including women, men, and children, are living in fear of eviction. They are struggling to make ends meet. During a visit to the colony, the leaders of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad observed this distressing scene.
On Monday morning, the Central Joint Editor of the Oikya Parishad, Monindra Kumar Nath, and Assistant Organizational Editor Bappaditya Basu visited the colony.
During this period, Oikya Parishad leaders engaged in a conversation with Afzal Hossain, the project director of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, emphasizing the importance of considering the resettlement of the colony residents. They firmly stated that eviction should not occur without ensuring proper resettlement for the affected families. Additionally, they raised the issue of resettling the 139 families who had previously been evicted.
In response, the project director assured the leaders that he would promptly visit the colony area and implement necessary measures to address the concerns raised.
CourtesyIt is to be noted that Oikya Parishad Secretary AD Rana Dasgupta and Joint General Secretary Manindra Kumar Nath met Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan in this regard. During the meeting, Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan assured to consider the matter sincerely.
During that meeting, he also gave the necessary instructions to the project director of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project to construct a multi-storied residential building and rehabilitate all the families of the colony.
The railways minister assured Oikya Parishad leaders that every family in Gopibagh (TTpara) Railway Harijan and Telugu Colony would be safeguarded from eviction, except for the purpose of rehabilitation. He emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring the proper resettlement of all previously displaced families.
In a bid to address the housing needs of the affected residents, the minister pledged the rapid construction of multi-storied residential buildings. This initiative aims to swiftly provide improved housing facilities for the residents of Gopibagh, offering them a secure and comfortable living environment.
