The slum dwellers called for the inclusion of the rights and demands of the urban poor in the manifesto of the political parties in the upcoming 12th National Parliament elections of Bangladesh. They made this demand in the discussion meetings titled ‘We want urban poor-friendly election manifesto’ organized jointly by BARCIK, and 70 urban poor organizations, today at the national Press Club, Dhaka.
The speakers in the discussions urged the political parties to make a clear commitment and statement in their election manifesto that ensures the protection and safeguarding status urban people’s rights living in the slum areas of Dhaka.
The discussion was presided over by the executive director of the Cup, Rebecca San-Yat where environmentalist and general secretary of POBA (Save the Environment movement) Abdus Sobhan, joint secretary of BAPA and Buriganga Bachao movement Mihir Biswas, senior journalist Nikhil Bhadra, president of Bastivasi Odhikar Rakkha Andolan Hosne Ara Begum Rafeza and executive editor of the Poribesh Barta, an environment focused newsletter Fardous Ahmed spoke and expressed solidarity with the demand of the urban poor.
However, BARCIK’s researcher Jahangir Alam presented the keynote paper in the discussion depicting the problems and constraints of the urban poor living in the slum areas. Writer and researcher of BARCIK Pavel Partha moderated the whole program.
Representatives of the urban poor from different slums of Dhaka city, road dwellers participated in the discussions and shared their problems. They placed specific 6 point demands which they want to be included in the election manifesto of the political parties. The 6-point demands are seen below:
- Take initiative to ensure safe housing for the low-income people of the city.
- Provide water and electricity at subsidized rates for the low income people.
- Provide special risk allowances, incentives and training for the urban poor to help that cope with the urban disasters.
- Set up government schools for the slum children.
- Set up clinics in urban slum areas like village satellite clinics.
- Adopt planned waste management, waste to resource conversion program in slum areas.
