Staff Reporter:
As part of the ongoing movement by freedom fighter families and slum residents demanding the withdrawal of the order cancelling the Mirpur Vashantek Slum Rehabilitation Project implementation agreement and compensation for the loss of Kolmilata Market, a roundtable discussion was held on Sunday, at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall of the National Press Club.
Speakers at the event said the Vashantek Project was a humanitarian
initiative — a dream to build a “model city for slum dwellers” to ensure housing for the homeless. The project, developed through public initiative without spending government funds, was cancelled in 2010 on false allegations and out of sheer political vengeance — a completely unlawful decision.
They further said that after the cancellation of the project agreement, the area has turned into a hub of corruption, illegal occupation, and looting by influential quarters. Meanwhile, compensation for the Kolmilata Market — property of the families of martyred freedom fighters — has been deliberately delayed for years through abuse of power, setting an example of administrative injustice and discrimination.
At the meeting, the speakers raised two demands:
The government must immediately announce the implementation of these two demands.
The protesters must be given an opportunity to meet the Chief Adviser.
They urged Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to meet with representatives of the movement and take steps to revive the Vashantek Rehabilitation Project and initiate the compensation process for the Kolmilata Market. Otherwise, they warned, the slum dwellers would be compelled to launch a tougher movement.
Speakers at the event strongly urged the government to immediately accept their two-point demand.
Among those who spoke were Md. Abdur Rahim, Convener of the Slum Rehabilitation and Martyred Families Compensation Movement Council; Senior Joint Convener Advocate Nur Taj Ara Oishi; NCP Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin; and council members Mst. Rahima Begum and Mst. Nasrin Sultana. Hundreds of slum residents, freedom fighter families, and movement leaders were present.
During the meeting, Abdur Rahim expressed the desire to meet the Chief Adviser, saying, “We have been struggling for a long time, but no effective solution has been achieved. Therefore, we wish to meet the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus. We believe that if he hears our concerns, these two issues will be resolved quickly.”
Abdur Rahim added, “We have already submitted a formal request to meet Honorable Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. We hope he will consider our demands with compassion. Bureaucratic complexities and deliberate delays are frustrating the movement participants. Without a direct dialogue with the Chief Adviser, a lasting solution to these problems will not be possible.”
