Action to establish Dalit rights stressed

Rights activists here today stressed the need for affirmative action alongside conducting a household survey for the dalit community to accept them socially and economically, reports BSS.

The state must take responsibility of the dalit community as they are forced to change their livelihood as a result of massive transformation of technology, they said at a dialogue on “Situation of the Dalit community in Bangladesh in the context of SDGs” in the CIRDAP auditorium.

Addressing the dialogue, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu laid emphasis on the role of both print and electronic media in disseminating information about the Dalit community. Member of General Economics Division (GED) Dr Shamsul Alam, Executive Director of Avijan, a social welfare organization, Banan Biswas, CPD Distinguished Fellow Professor Mustafizur Rahman, among others, also spoke at the dialogue with Convener of Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya in the chair.

The information minister said, “Prime Minister's ten priority programmes are closely related to achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which eventually would help improve social and economic situation of the Dalit community.” All should extend their cooperation in implementing PM's major programmes for achieving the targets of SDGs as the country has achieved most targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he added.  

He said, “If we want inclusive economy, we must ensure political inclusion.... I believe sustainable development is closely linked to sustainable politics.” Sustainable politics would ensure good governance and rule of law, which will remove deprivation of underprivileged groups of people including Dalit community, he added. Dr Shamsul said, “Dalit community is not well-defined concept in our country.

India defined dalit clearly and it launched campaign to establish their rights in society.”

“As we have no specific definition of the dalit concept, we are facing problems in taking any need-based programme on the issue,” he added.

 

Action to establish Dalit rights stressed

Rights activists here today stressed the need for affirmative action alongside conducting a household survey for the dalit community to accept them socially and economically, reports BSS. The state must take responsibility of the dalit community as they are forced to change their livelihood as a result of massive transformation of technology, they said at a dialogue on Situation of the Dalit community in Bangladesh in the context of SDGs in the CIRDAP auditorium. Addressing the dialogue, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu laid emphasis on the role of both print and electronic media in disseminating information about the Dalit community. Member of General Economics Division (GED) Dr Shamsul Alam, Executive Director of Avijan, a social welfare organization, Banan Biswas, CPD Distinguished Fellow Professor Mustafizur Rahman, among others, also spoke at the dialogue with Convener of Citizens Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya in the chair. The information minister said, Prime Ministers ten priority programmes are closely related to achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which eventually would help improve social and economic situation of the Dalit community. All should extend their cooperation in implementing PMs major programmes for achieving the targets of SDGs as the country has achieved most targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he added. He said, If we want inclusive economy, we must ensure political inclusion.... I believe sustainable development is closely linked to sustainable politics. Sustainable politics would ensure good governance and rule of law, which will remove deprivation of underprivileged groups of people including Dalit community, he added. Dr Shamsul said, Dalit community is not well-defined concept in our country. India defined dalit clearly and it launched campaign to establish their rights in society. As we have no specific definition of the dalit concept, we are facing problems in taking any need-based programme on the issue, he added.