Freedom Fighter families stage sit-in in front of National Press Club
Staff Reporter :
Freedom fighter families and slum residents have been staging a continuous sit-in in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Sunday for one month, demanding compensation for Kalomilta Bazar in Bijoy Smarani and the cancellation of the order on the implementation contract of the Mirpur Bashantek slum relocation project.
As part of the previously announced program, they attempted to stage a siege at the residence of the Land Adviser, but the police prevented them. Later, a five-member team, led by the son of a martyred freedom fighter, Alhaj Md. Abdur Rahim, met with the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land. The Secretary, as before, assured them that the matter would be resolved.
After the meeting with the Secretary, the freedom fighter families and slum residents wore shrouds and staged a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar. At the Central Shaheed Minar, hundreds of slum residents were present, including the granddaughter of a martyred freedom fighter, Advocate Nurtaj Ara Aishi.
Speaking at the sit-in, Abdur Rahim said, “We have been carrying out this movement for one month on two demands, but the government is not resolving them.
When we attempted to stage a siege at the Land Adviser’s residence, the police stopped us. We have had a meeting with the Senior Secretary. He said, as before, that it will take time. Whenever we protest, he calls us and says it will take time, and that the matter will be resolved.
But in reality, nothing is happening. We want to make it clear-we will not return home until our demands are met. If we suffer any harm, the government will be fully responsible. If our demands are not met immediately, we will be forced to take strict action.”
Abdur Rahim further said, “We repeatedly sought resolution of these two demands from the previous autocratic government but received none. Even after a year, the interim government has not met our demands, which is very disappointing.
Instead, they are trying to suppress our movement through the police. Our movement cannot be stopped by preventing it. On the contrary, this will make our movement even stronger.
No matter what obstacles are placed, our movement will continue. We will remain on the streets until our demands are fulfilled; if necessary, we are ready to give our lives, but we will not step back from the streets.”