Pass anti-discrimination law
Eminent rights activist Sultana Kamal yesterday called for enactment of the proposed Anti-Discrimination Act 2014 immediately to protect the rights of the disadvantaged citizens of the country.
“It is embarrassing that even after 43 years of independence, some people of our society are still struggling to earn dignity,” the executive director of Ain o Salish Kendra said at a discussion titled "Anti-Discrimination Act is Needed to Establish Dignity".
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Sultana Kamal said though a law could not ensure human rights, it was needed to fight discriminations legally. A former caretaker government adviser, she underscored the need for a united struggle to establish the rights of Harijans and other deprived communities.
Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad and Kushtia-based NGO FAIR in association with Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) organised the discussion in the capital's Bangladesh Medical Association Auditorium to mark Global Dignity Day (October 15).
Krishnalal, president of Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad, chaired the meeting.
A number of people from the Harijan community joined the programme, which started at 9:00am with a procession from the Central Shaheed Miner.
Speaking about equal rights of all, lawmaker Shirin Aktar said, "We want to remove discriminations from society. We get one life, so we want to live it with dignity.”
She assured Harijans that she would persuade the government to give them land for housing.
Rina Roy, director of MJF, called upon the Harijan community to continue their struggle till the act was passed.
Among others, Kajal Devnath, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, and Nirmal Chandra Das, secretary general of Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad, also spoke.
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