Deprived of human rights, the nomadic lifestyle of the Gypsy community



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Barta 24

Photo: Barta 24

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The Gypsy community of Rangpur is living a nomadic life due to insecurity, unhealthy environment, deprived of education and medical care. They live in the forest by pulling polythene tents under the open sky along the banks of the Ghaghara river. The Gypsies like floating river water. 7/8 people live in one tent. No quality environment, medical care, education, sanitation, security or proper accommodation. They are nomads who pitch their tents to find shelter in harsh conditions.

It was found after visiting the spot, the tent has been made floating under Damdama bridge near Ghaggar river in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur. They live in tents under the open sky even in various natural disasters, including being wet in the rain, enduring the unbearable heat in the sun, and suffering from the fog in severe winter. This is how the life of the Gypsy community has been going on for ages. They are deprived of several services of fundamental rights. But they are citizens of this country.

Bijli, who lives temporarily under the Damdama Bridge in Rangpur, said that life of ours is just a matter of drinking. If I camp on this side of the river, tomorrow is on the other side. It is not right where to stay and where to go. Such is life in gypsy style. We wanted the children to go to school, they leran reading and writing. Don't play like snakes, don't go around the village with poison pills. But any study? We want free treatment, education, nutrition in many places. There is nothing like that.

Chumki, a resident of the Gypsy community, who is living temporarily, said that it takes days to reach the river's current. Every day we go from village to village to hunt tooth worms, singa gaai, snake play show, and thus earn a few in the whole day. On top of that, storms, rains, and fogs are all the same. What should I do with my children? This is how it has to go on, it is very difficult for me. No house, no good water and toilet system.

In this regard, development researcher Umar Farooq said, the gypsy group or nomadic class of Bangladesh who could not be involved in our development activities. If we can't involve the people who are still deprived of their quality of life, neglected, deprived of those benefits, deprived of rights, through the coordinated initiative of the government, if we can't ensure them permanent residence and basic rights, then our entire development activities will be questioned.

When asked about this, Deputy Commissioner Mobaswer Hasan said that various plans are being taken to improve the quality of life of the gypsy community. We are trying to encourage them, it is a challenge. We are also trying to ensure law and order. Also, some organizations are working with children who are out of education, including children who were caught in the storm. There are some schools with Deep Eye Care and we have government institutions. We are trying

It is known that 100 Gypsy families who came from Bikrampur, Faridpur and  Munshiganj districts have temporarily taken shelter in this place of the district. Playing with snakes and selling amulets are their main sources of income. In search of livelihood, they spend half of the year running around the country with a boat. They also want to live with family like common people.

   

The Eid joy of one and a half lakh people is floating in the flood water



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Barta24

Photo: Barta24

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Eid means laughter. Eid means happiness. There is no such smile on the faces of more than one and a half lakh people of Sylhet. Eid-ul-Azha, the biggest religious festival of Muslims, will be celebrated on Monday (June 17). People across the country will celebrate Eid with the glory of sacrifice. But Sylhet has already created a flood situation. Therefore, the joy of Eid is not on the faces of one and a half lakh people of Sylhet.

It is known that flood situation has arisen in the border upazilas of Sylhet due to torrential downpour and continuous rain. Already two rivers Surma and Kushiara are flowing over the danger level at two points. Also in some places the water is close to danger level.

Floods have occurred in 9 out of 13 upazilas of Sylhet. 1 lakh 79 thousand 18 people have been affected by flood in the entire district. Gowainghat upazila has been flooded the most where 1 lakh 14 thousand 600 people of 13 unions of this upazila are affected. The district administration has opened a total of 537 shelters in 13 upazilas of the district. 53 people have taken shelter. Out of this, 43 people have taken shelter in Osmani Nagar and 10 people have taken shelter in Balaganj, the district administration said.

According to the information of the Water Development Board Sylhet office, at 3 pm on Sunday (June 16) at Kanaighat point of Surma river, 92 cm of water was flowing over the boundary line. At Fenchuganj Point of Kushiara River, water is flowing above 63 cm of the flood limit and at Saraighat Point of Sari River in Gowainghat, 24 cm. Also the water is close to the danger zone at various points.

In a notice signed by Md. Omar Farooq, meteorologist of the Meteorological Department, Sylhet has warned of heavy rainfall in the next 72 hours from 6 pm on June 16.

Meanwhile, the Salutikar-Gowainghat road has been submerged in flood water due to continuous rains and landslides for several days. Flood water is flowing in several places on the Gowainghat-Saraighat and Salutikar-Gowainghat roads of the upazila. Moreover, various areas in Kanaighat upazila have been inundated with flood water. Knee-deep water can also be seen in the bazaars.

Newly, water entered the higher and lower areas in 9 unions of Kanaighat upazila. Upazila administration officials have already visited those areas and miking is being done to quickly locate shelters in high-risk prone areas.

Sylhet district administration and Sylhet City Corporation sources said that there are preparations to deal with the flood situation. Shelters have been kept ready in district administration and city corporation areas. Besides, boats are also ready for rescue work in each upazila. Arrangements have also been made to organize special meals in the shelters in case of flood situations during Eid. Apart from this, arrangements have been made for relief assistance in flood situations.

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Orders to be proactive in dealing with the situation at the Myanmar border



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Cox’s Bazar
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui on Friday (June 15) visited the southeastern border of the country including St. Martin Island to monitor the Bangladesh-Myanmar border situation. Meanwhile, he ordered the BGB members to be always active to deal with any situation arising on the border of Myanmar.

On Sunday (June 16) at 10 o'clock in the morning, the public relations officer of the BGB headquarters said Shariful Islam informed the matter.

In view of the recent clash between the Myanmar Army and the armed rebel group Arakan Army in the Mangadu area bordering the Arakan State of Myanmar, a visit to St. Martin Island BOP under BGB Director General Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) to monitor the border situation arising as Bangladesh's Teknaf and St. Martin Island border is located opposite the Maungdaw border. He inspected BOP's defense system and visited various installations under construction in St. Martin Island.

During the visit, the Director General of BGB gave various instructions on operational, training and administrative matters for the security of the country's sovereignty and border to all levels of BGB members responsible for the border.

The Director General of BGB expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone for carrying out their duties with efficiency and success in spite of various adversities in this remote island.

At the same time, he ordered the BGB members to be always active to deal with any situation arising on the border of Myanmar.

Besides, Director General of BGB visited Ramu Sector Headquarters, Battalion Headquarters of Ramu Battalion (30 BGB) and subordinate Morichya Joint Checkpost.

During the visit BGB Director General along with senior officials of BGB Headquarters, Cox's Bazar Region Commander, Ramu Sector Commander and other officers of BGB were present.

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Govt. keeping strict vigil on Myanmar border: Quader



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Barta24

Photo: Barta24

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Bangladesh has never bowed down to anyone. Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that the government is keeping a strict vigil on the Myanmar border.

He said these things at a press conference at the Awami League president's political office in Dhanmondi on Sunday (June 16) in the capital.

Commenting on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's irresponsible statement about the St. Martin situation, Obaidul Quader said that he has no idea about the situation.

General Secretary of Awami League said that the shooting incident in Saint Martin was done by the Arakan Army. Myanmar's state forces did not.

Quader said that food ships are regularly traveling to St. Martin, we want to solve the problem through discussion. There is no need for Bangladesh to go to war with Myanmar. St. Martin's occupation is not true, these rumors are being spread.

He said, we have never bowed down to anyone and will never do so. A few days ago, members of the Myanmar Border Guard took refuge in Bangladesh. They have been returned. Bangladesh is closely monitoring the Myanmar border, we are on high alert.

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Benazir Ahmed resigned from the ‘Boat Club’



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com Dhaka:
photo: collected

photo: collected

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Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has resigned from the post of Savar Boat Club President. On June 13, he left this post by sending a letter to the club's advisor, Rubel Aziz.

Boat Club executive committee member businessman Nasir U Mahmood confirmed the matter to the media.

Nasir said that Benazir Ahmed, who is in charge of the president of the boat club, wrote to the advisor of the club, Rubel Aziz, that he is out of the country with his family on urgent work. Due to which he is not able to perform the duties of the president of the club.

Nasir said that after the resignation of Benazir Ahmed, Rubel Aziz has been given the responsibility of acting president.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was probing the assets of former IGP Benazir Ahmed and his family. Meanwhile, he and his family left the country on May 4. Benazir was IGP from April 2020 to September 2022 and Director General of RAB from January 2015 to April 2020. He also served as Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for a long time.

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