Victims of Eviction
300 slum dwellers live under open sky in Rajshahi
RU Correspondent
Around 300 slum dwellers are now living under open sky at a newly emerged shoal of the river Padma as the government agencies evicted them after demolishing their thatched houses on the city protection embankment on Wednesday. But some influential locals are pressing them to leave the place, they alleged. "The land grabbers are threatening us through loud speakers to leave the shoal immediately, otherwise they will loot our belongings," said Hajera,40, while talking to newsmen yesterday. "We are passing our nights amidst fear of further eviction coupled by biting cold at the river bed," she added. The children and elderly people are the worst sufferers as they are not getting enough food and pure drinking water. Afsar Mia, 45, told newsmen that he along with his four dependents, had been leading their lives by pulling a rickshaw. "But during last three days I could not rent a rickshaw as I was busy in building a makeshift shelter," he said. Hafiz, a footpath vendor, said he had been living at Sreerampur slum for last two years. "Now I am living under the open sky with my family having only a meal a day," he added. Zahid Ali alleged that before their eviction some people from the local administration wanted to see their papers. "We handed over those papers to the office of the deputy commissioner for examination, but we are yet to get back those documents," he added. Sohrab Hossain, vice-president of Rajpara thana Jubo Dal, and Israfil, an employee of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, took Tk 1500 to Tk 2000 from each family to negotiate a settlement, the victims alleged. Sohrab and Israfil admitted the fact and told newsmen that they took the money to bear court expenditure. The evicted victims have urged the caretaker government for taking necessary steps for their permanent rehabilitation.
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