Include them in govt census

Say speakers on under-represented minorities

Staff Correspondent

Various under-represented minorities of the country have been facing discrimination and marginalisation. Due to lack of government census data on them and proper recognition, these people, most of whom are ultra-poor, are now in crisis.

Speakers expressed this concern yesterday in the launching ceremony of Brattyajan Resource Centre (BRC), a centre dedicated to conduct research on exclusion and marginalisation challenges in Bangladesh.

On the same day, BRC and Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) published 11 books and monographs on Bangladesh’s marginalised communities.

Phillip Gain, director of SEHD, said, “Monthly salary of a cleaner from the Harijan community is only Tk 550 in Sreemangal municipality. They are not even allowed to dine in the nearby restaurants.”

Gain said the government does not have reliable data on marginalised groups. Eminent economist Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud said compared to neighbouring countries, income inequality is comparatively low in Bangladesh. However, this fact is not applicable for minorities.

“Even our development policies and plans do not include these communities. As a result, sometimes what we consider as development projects, turn out to be a threat to their survival,” he said.

Lilly Nicholls, high commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh; Prof Tanzimuddin Khan of international relations department at DU; Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairperson, Power and Participation Research Centre; activist Khushi Kabir; and Jeremy Opritesco, deputy head of diplomatic mission, EU Delegation, were also present.

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