Press Release in Bengali

15-11-2011 Chuknagar (Khulna)

Organised by the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad, a protest rally was brought out in Chuknagar to protest the caste  discrimination suffered by Anando Das whose cremation was refused by so called High caste Hindus. Anando, a Dalit (Rishi, by caste), was refused the last rites in the cremation ground used by non-Dalits in the village of Bhalukghar  Kesobpur, Jessore) on October the 20, 2011 because of hs supposed unworthiness. A huge numebr of Dalits converges  on Chuknagar from nearby villages and vented their anger against caste discrimination.

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On October 22 last, Ujjol Das, chairman of the Kesobpur branch of the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad, is arrested by Police in the first hours of the morning. Together with Ujjol also his father Kumar Das and grandfather Onil Das are arrested and sent to the thana jail. It is apparent that this sudden arrest has got to do with the protests being organised against the discrimination suffered by a Rishi person at the cremation ground. The Bangladesh Dalit Parishad is about to start a case against this discrimination and their perpetrators.

Human chain & protest against untouchability at Keshobpur

On 20-10-2011 in the village of Bhalukghar, Kesobpur upazila in the
district of Jessore, the corpse of Anondo Das, a dalit belonging to the
Rishi caste, was turned back from the cremation ground by so called high caste Hindu because of Anondo low status. The Rishi are the traditional coblers and leather workers of south west Bangladesh. Because of their so called low occupation they are to this day despised and scorned. Being turned away from the cremation ground, Anondo’s dead body was cremated by his relatives and mourners along a river bank, outside of the established encloser. The villagers protesting this act of caste discrimination brought out a procession forming a human chain in protest.

Press Release in Bengali

The people's protest, Tala 9-7-11

In the morning of 8 July, in the village of Sujonsaha, in the union of Islamkati (Satkhira district),
Monoronjon Mondol and his son Bijoy while and because they were tending their pigs got mercilessly beaten up by two local Muslim youngsters. Both Monoronjon and Bijoy were later on admitted to the
local Sadar hospital of the Tala upazila by local compassionate people.
Monoronjon and his son belong to the Kaora or Kaeputro caste, a former untouchable group traditionally linked to raising pigs. To protest this injustice, the Bangladesh Dalit Parisad on July the 9, at 4 o’clocl pm, in Tala upazila organized a protest meeting participated by a fair number of Dalits and local influential people.

Press Release in Bengali

Press Release in Bengali

On 16 March 2011, on the occasion of the international day for the elimination of racial discrimination (21 March),
dalit people in Joypurhat district under Rajshahi Division have been drawing the attention of all to their plight. During the human chain and procession Dalits have demanded to enact an anti-discrimination. Dalits in Joypurhat are tired of being marginalized due to their hereditary professions. They farther demanded greater access to Governmental resources and services. We are sufferings at every sphere of our life.
500 and more dalit people (Cobblers, Shoe maker, Robidas, Jaladas, Cleaner) demonstrated on the main road and then submitted a memorandum with 12 demand to the District Commissioner of Joypurhat. On behalf of The Bangladesh Dalit Parishad, the convenner of Joypurhat Dalit Parishad Ad. Babul Robidas, the General Secretary Mr. Ashok Das, the Coordinator Bikash Das, Dalit leaders Monu Robidas, Balailal Robidas, Bordi Robidas,
Basonti Robidas, Monu Horijon spoke at the gathering. Besides, acting district commissioner Mr. Monjurul Islam, Principle Khaja Samsul Alam, Co-convener, Bangladesh Awami League, Mr. Mamunur Roshid, General
Secretary of District Ganoforum, Dewan Bodiujjaman, General Secretary of district Communist Party, Mr. Abdul Ajij Molla, Mayor of Joypurhat municipal showed their solidarity towards the legal demand of dalits.

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Project proposal

February 2001. The Bangladesh Dalit Parishad is going to celebrate the international antidiscrimination day (March 21, 2011) with a programme which will involve the 7 divisions of Bangladesh, over a period of a
whole month (March).

The programme aims at raising awareness in both the Dalit population and the general public alike on dalits’ situation and plight.

Farther details of the programme are to be found in the file (Project proposal) linked below. Everybody is invited to participate and make the programme a success.

If somebody wishes to contribute to the expenditure and donate something, he/she may contact Paritran at the e-mail given on this website.

Violence at Garbhanga - Bangla report

In the Rishi (dalit) hamlet of Gorbhanga, Kesobpur thana, in the district of Jessore a certain Sonnashi Das refusing to pay a tangent to local musclemen, brings havoc on himself and his home. The accident takes place on January the 30 at 2,30 in the afternoon. The culprits are Saddam Khan and Saon Sordar. The Bangladesh Dalit Parisad ascertaining the event expressed its strong condemnation. Sonnashi Das has lodged a complaint with the local police station (case no. 20/31-1-11, dhara 447/323/379/380/407/506).

Press release in Bangla

On 27 November, in the Kesobpur auditorium during a debate on the development of the upazila at the presence of local civil society members and of the honourable Member of Parliament and committee whip Prof. Shek Abdul Ohab, severe punishment to the arsonists of the Rishi para has been requested, together with the demand for compensation to the families who have been deprived so cowardly of their homes. The requests have been included in a memorandum handed over to the honourable Member of Parliament by Bikash Das, convener of the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad, central committee. Afterwards, the honourable MP together with local authorities and well-meaning citizens visited the Rishi para target of the arsonist attack, consoled the affected people and encouraged the local authority to undertake swift action to redress the wrong.

Go to the news: “Protesting the arsonist and looting occurrences in Mojidpur”

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Bangla Press Release

Protesting the arsonist and looting occurrences in Mojidpur, a huge gathering has been organised by the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad and other local civil society members and organisations in Kesobpur.

On 21 November 2010 to protest the failure of the law enforcing agencies to address the arson and looting incidents in the Rishi para of a huge gathering has been organised by both the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad and local civil society people. Thousand Dalit people, mainly Rishi, have flocked the venue in Kesobpur protesting. The gathering was chaired by Ersad Mollik, former chairman of Mojidpur Union. Udoy Das, Bangladesh Dalit Parishad central committee chairman, and Osok Das, Bangladesh Dalit Parishad central committee secretary, addressed the gathering. Other speakers included Abu Bokkar Siddiqi local Workers Party leader, Kalipodo master, chairman of the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad of Khulna district, Kalidas, chairman of the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad of Bagerhat District, and a host of other distinguished guests and well-wishers. The speakers while urging the authorities to do the needful, threatened to launch an all-out movement if justice is not meted out quickly and effectively. Milon Das, director of Parittran, announced also for the following weeks a protest programme to be held in each and every districts of Bangladesh.

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Filed under: Dalit News Tagged: Bangladesh, Bangladesh Dalit Parishad, dalit, Mojidpur ]]> http://dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/protesting-the-arsonist-and-looting-occurrences-in-mojidpur/feed/ 0 ariberti Protesting the arsonist and looting occurrences in Mojidpur - bangla http://dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/rishi-houses-set-on-fire-by-miscreants-in-kesobpur/ http://dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/rishi-houses-set-on-fire-by-miscreants-in-kesobpur/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:11:10 +0000 Antonio Ariberti http://dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com/?p=326 Continue reading →]]>

Report in Bangla

On November 16,

2010, at about 8 o’clock in the morning a group of circa 50 people on board of motorcycles attacked in medieval style a Dalit (Rishi) hamlet in the village of Mojidpur in Kesobpur upazila in the Jessore district. The attackers set fire to the houses of Sopon Das, Gopal Das, Shosti Das, Roshomoe Das, Shorosoti Das and Orciona Das. At the same time, they started breaking up and beating up whatever and whoever came their way. Apparently, behind the attack there is a question of land. The musclemen have been hired by local Muslims who have claims on the land of the Rishi. In the ensuing fight a dozen Rishi people had to be admitted to the local hospital for treatment. After the attack, people of the Rishi hamlet supported by other local people organised a procession to protest the happening. A memorandum has been handed over to the upazila’s administrative officer. To farther protest the attack a road blockade was enforced. The people were addressed by Advocate Abu Bokkar, local leader, and Bikash Das, convener of the Bangladesh Dalit Parishad. The latter organisation and Parittran, a Dalit Human Rights organisation, are planning further action for the following days. Court cases have been started and pressure is mounting for the arrest of the perpetrators.

Click to view slideshow.
Filed under: Dalit News Tagged: dalit, Mojidpur, Rishi ]]> http://dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/rishi-houses-set-on-fire-by-miscreants-in-kesobpur/feed/ 0 ariberti pdf-icon http://dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/acid-on-a-dalit-woman-cobblers%e2%80%99-community/ http://dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/acid-on-a-dalit-woman-cobblers%e2%80%99-community/#comments Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:38:37 +0000 Antonio Ariberti http://dalitbangladesh.wordpress.com/?p=320 Continue reading →]]>

Rina Rani Das with some of the marks left by the acid attack

On 14 October 2010, Mohammad Sobuj Mia (18) son of Md. Shamsul Hoqu of Debottor Ramnathpur, in Gaibandha district, poured acid on Rina Rani Das (32) while the latter was cooking at her place. Rina is a hosewife of Debottor Ramnathpur village, P.S., Govindagonj, in the district of Gaibandha. She is married to Ramchayon Robidas. The latter after the occurrence has filed a case with the local police station under the Acid Crime Act 2002 (No. 26 dated 14.10.2010). Rina after receiving preliminary treatment at the local Health complex in Govindagonj is at the moment undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Acid Foundation Hospital. It appears that land interests are behind the heinous attack.