The Dalit and Harijan communities yesterday demanded budgetary allocations in different sectors to be set aside in this year's budget for the downtrodden communities.
The communities urged the government to ensure special quotas and budgetary allocation in education and job sectors, as the communities are lagging behind due to lack of proper education system.
They made their demands at a view-exchange programme held at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad (BHOP) organised the event in association with human rights bodies Manusher Jonno Foundation and Friends Association for Integrated Revolution (Fair).
Budgetary allocation for accommodation was also demanded as speakers said children are lacking an optimal environment for studying.
“Although we are unaccepted in mainstream society, it cannot function without us” said Nirmal Chandra Das, secretary general of BHOP.
Dalit and Harijan communities make up around one crore of the entire population, she added.
Among speakers, Goutam Das, hailing from Satkhira, claimed a Dalit child was beaten up and hospitalised in April for not cleaning the dishes at school for her headmistress.
At this, Secretary to the Social Welfare Ministry Ranjit Kumar Biswas requested Goutam to file the complaint to him in writing. The secretary vowed to take stern actions by writing to his counterpart at the education ministry.
Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain O Salish Kendro, Mohon Robi Das, the first ever Dalit youth to study at Dhaka University, spoke among others.