Slum dwellers block road for relief in Dinajpur

Hundreds of slum dwellers and local people blocked a major road in Dinajpur for more than two hours on Wednesday demanding government relief amid the ongoing Covid-19 shutdown. They claim they have been deprived of necessary assistance.

The demonstrators blocked the road on Kanchan Bridge over the Punarbhaba River from 10am to 12:30 pm on Wednesday.

The protest resulted in a complete halt of road communication between Biral and Bochaganj upazilas with Dinajpur town.

The protesters alleged that though the government has directed people to stay at home to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and that relief material will be delivered to their homes, the relief assistance has not been provided, even after the residents took to the streets. 

Since rickshaw and van pullers, street vendors and the poor have no income due to the Covid-19 shutdown, they are suffering from a scarcity of food and are starving with their families, they said.

Later, Dinajpur Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Saniul Ferdous, Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shahriar Rahman and other officials of the administration went to the spot and convinced the local people to lift the road block.

The road block was eventually removed at around 12:30 pm when the police and the administration assured them that they would get relief assistance. 

ADC Ferdous said that relief will be provided to the poor people in the area once the list is ready.

Earlier on Monday, hundreds of local people blocked the Dinajpur-Rangpur Highway for five hours demanding relief.