The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a discussion here on Thursday called upon the political parties to integrate accumulated pains and agonies of the country's marginal people in their election manifesto for their well-being.

Side by side with this, they said the political parties will have to make plan of actions to meet the demand of marginalised people.

Solidarity of Marginal People, an NGO, organised the discussion titled "Demands of marginalised people in election manifestos of political parties" at Jatiya Press Club here.

Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed presided over the function while editor of Bhorer Kagoj Shaymol Dutta moderated it.

The function was also addressed, among others, by general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Mojahidul Islam Selim, Shahin Akhter Doli of Nari Moitree, Helal Uddin of Angikar Bangladesh, Advocate Mosharraf Hossain Mojumdar of National Disabled Forum, Dr Dijendranath Sarkar of Joypurhat district and Nazrul Islam of Pabna.

A 10-point proposal was put forward including food security of marginal people, education, health and women's rights at the discussion.

The speakers demanded ensuring availability of agriculture inputs and easy marketing facilities of agriculture products for the marginalised people after being considered the rights of their livelihood as human rights.

BEA Chairman Dr Ahmed said any development efforts will go in vain if socio- economic conditions of the marginal people are not scaled up.

He described the unity and struggle as the key to establish rights of the deprived community and said awareness must be strengthened for ensuring their rights.

The economist suggested continuing the pressure upon the political parties to press home their demands.

Dr QK Ahmed said the current global economic situation and due role of the state and private sector in the economy of Bangladesh needs to be incorporated with the manifestos of the political parties.

Mojahidul Islam Salim said people should be aware of their rights and organised for betterment of the marginalised community.