Restaurant and saloon owners expressed their solidarity with the low caste Hindus in their struggle to establish their rights enshrined in the Constitution.

They announced their solidarity at a meeting held at Uttaran training centre at Patkelghata in Tala upazila.

Action Aid Bangladesh, a major NGO, and Bhumij, another local NGO, jointly organised the meeting chaired by Patkelghata Restaurant Owners Association president Aditya Mallik.

Speakers urged all to help establish rights of the untouchables in restaurants and saloons.

They lamented saying it is a pity that the deprived community members are even barred from entering restaurants to have a cup of tea. Not only that they are also unable to enter any saloon for shaving, they said. They urged all to remain vigilant so that none can hate the Harijans and Adivasis.

Speakers demanded a separate ministry and separate allocation from the national budget for the community members to ensure their equal rights.

They called upon the government to take measures to ensure their rights. They called upon the people of all strata of life to come forward to ensure their just rights.

Among others, Ishaque Ali, Hari Pada, Mongal Kumar, Rabindra Nath Roy, Abul Hossain, Amit Kumar Ghosh, Abdullahel Hadi, Tanzulur Rahman, Mallika Mallik and Boyhom Loncheo addressed.