45pc street people subjected to harassment

About 45 percent street people are subjected to harassment by various quarters, especially by law enforcing agencies, said a study yesterday.

It pointed out that the street dwellers pay more money for using public toilets which also cause serious health hazards to them.

The study suggested that the street and slum dwellers should have access to public utility services.

It revealed that the rural people are forced to migrate to urban areas due to river erosion, extreme poverty and lack of employment facilities.

The study on 'Missing citizens: Life on the streets of Dhaka' was conducted jointly by the Association for Socio-Economic Advancement of Bangladesh (ASEAB) and Together for Service of People (TSP).

While presiding over a discussion on the study in the city, Prof Helal Uddin Khan Arefin of Dhaka University said the government should not evict street and slum dwellers without proper rehabilitation.

Dr Mohammad Zahurul Islam said it is a matter of regret that even after 32 years of independence we have to conduct research on street people.

City Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka said it is not possible to arrange accommodation for all street and slum dwellers in the city.

"We have to take up comprehensive development policy to create employment opportunities in rural areas to stop migration to urban areas, said the mayor.

Shariful Alam, chairperson of ASEAB, Zeenat Afroz of Plan Bangladesh,

Iftekhar Hossain of SIDA, Rezaul Helai of Concern Bangladesh and Shafiur Rahman, executive director of TSP, also spoke on the occasion.