Bangladesh Harijan Okkyo Parishad (BHOP) and Badabon Sangho have organized rallies and discussion meetings in Dhaka to observe the day. It is worthy to mention that BHOP is a group working for Harijan peoples and led by Harijan communities particularly cleaning teams in the urban areas. They raised their demands i.e., quota in the public services, quota and social safety net schemes, housing in the urban areas, and combat harassment in name of caste and race.
In the rallies and meeting, speakers including Harijan leaders mention that Harijan communities living in the colonies are facing extreme challenges regarding housing and sanitation, city corporations are not sensitive and even eager to evict them from their traditional colonies’.
In the meeting, the chairman of the Labour reform commission agreed that cleaning workers are facing different inequalities because of their race and identity. Harijan leaders emphasized that they will continue movements until the government agrees and reviews the acts and policies.
