Several injured as supporters of local councillor allegedly attack Mironzilla Harijan Colony residents
The attack took place while Dhaka South City Corporation Estate Officer Md Muniruzzaman was visiting the colony to rehabilitate 66 residents in new apartments
Several residents of Mironzilla Harijan City Colony were injured in an attack launched allegedly by supporters of local councillor Md Awal Hossen today (10 July).
The attack took place while Dhaka South City Corporation Estate Officer Md Muniruzzaman was visiting the colony to rehabilitate 66 residents in new apartments.
"We were talking to lawyers and members of the residents within the colony. Suddenly, I saw a commotion at the gate. The situation was later brought under control by deploying additional police," Moniruzzaman told The Business Standard.
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He, however, could not confirm which group initiated the attack.
"The local police station's officer-in-charge has been asked to identify those involved in the attack. Now the situation is normal," the Dhaka South official said.
Meanwhile, Harijan community leader Mahesh Lal claimed the attack was launched by Dhaka South's Ward-33 Councillor Md Awal Hossen's supporters.
"When the magistrate [Moniruzzaman] came to show us the rooms allotted to us, we opened the main gate out of respect for him. At the time, the local councillor also wanted to enter the colony with his team.
"But we refused to let them in out of fear of an attack. Then the councillor came in with his men and attacked us and vandalised our temple. Many people, including women and children, were injured," said Mahesh.
TBS could not reach councillor Awal over the phone despite several attempts.
Meanwhile, video clips seen by TBS show two groups throwing stones at each other near the colony, apparent during a clash triggered by the attack.
'We clean the city, so they want to evict us to clean colony'
Residents of Mironzilla Harijan Colony in the city's Bangshal, have threatened "suicide" in protest of attack by supporters of local councillor Md Awal Hossen.
"We clean the city, so they want to evict us to clean the colony. We will commit suicide by pouring petrol on our bodies to show the world that we are helpless," Sudama Das, a resident of the colony, said this on behalf of the residents at a citizens' dialogue titled "Stop eviction of Mironzilla Colony Harijans and implement permanent housing and rights" at the National Press Club yesterday afternoon.
Advocate Ainun Nahar Siddiqa Lipi, a Supreme Court lawyer representing Harijans in the court, said, "We were holding a press conference organised by the Land Protection Committee of the community of Mironzilla Colony. After the press conference, the local councillor Awal and Dhaka South City Estate Officer Md Muniruzzaman came to the colony.
"At that time, the residents of the colony had a heated argument with the councillor and the magistrate. Then the councillor's people attacked the colony and vandalised the houses and temples of the Harijans."
Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Professor Mizanur Rahman said, "The state should have ensured the civil rights of the Harijans. There is a High Court order to evict after arranging alternative accommodation.
"This is a clear violation of human rights."
He also requested the prime minister to protect the human rights of the residents of Mironzilla Colony.
The attack on the colony comes as the Appellate Division yesterday ordered Dhaka South authorities to comply with a 13 June High Court order that suspended an eviction drive by Dhaka South in the colony for a month.
The Appellate Division order comes as Dhaka South recently sent letters to authorities concerned for a new eviction drive in the Harijan colony on 10 and 11 July. In response, lawyers representing the colony members sought a new ban on the eviction drives.
The court also set 11 July as the new date for hearing on a plea by the Dhaka South challenging the High Court order on eviction drive in the colony.
