Good Morning Prime Minister

It was a tale of 1969. The whole of Bangladesh was jolted by the mass upsurge of students-masses for ouster of the tyrannical Ayub rule. The military rulers were out to obstruct the mass-movement through intimidations. They were very much afraid and panicky seeing that the size and violent magnitude of the processions and demonstrations of the angry people were being swelled day by day. The notorious bureaucrats convinced the autocratic military rulers that the participants were all slum dwellers who are haired by the Awami Leaguers to make success their oust government motive. So, the authorities directed the concerned to evict the sum dwellers. They were asked not to use force and other means of coercion, but to adopt cunning tactics and sweet words.  As part of their unholy design, the authorities started distributing forms among the slum-dwellers. The poor slum people were told that the authorities were going to built big buildings and those would be allotted among the existing slum people. But the slum-dwellers could read the pulse and real motive of the anti-people military rulers. With the announcement of this unholy plan, the people roared and came out on the streets   chanting slogans like "Down Fall  Ayub Regime". They brought out massive procession and reached at Dhanmondi 32, resident of Bangabandhu. Hearing the ploy of the regime to oust the slum people from the city in disguise of shifting them in new pucca building, Bangabandhu flatly said, " Slums could not be demolished , slum dwellers could not be displaced . "Slums are very much a culture of our civic life". With this stern warning of Bangabandhu, the plan of the authorities to evict slum dwellers was instantly jeopardized. 

Dear Prime Minister, You could recall in your memory that after formation of your first government in 1996, thousands of slum dwellers came to you in procession and alleged that some quarter in the government were out to evict them from sprawling Bhashantek area in the plea of raising "Resham Polli" (Silk Village) , a mischievous move of the fallen autocratic regime of  H,M.Ershad. I had had the luck to cover the event as special correspondent of BSS. Seeing the lamentation of the poor people, you told them, "I am the daughter of Bangabandhu. I have come to power not to make the people homeless, but to ensure roof overheads for all".   In a meeting of the National Housing Committee you had directed the ministry to allot the land to Proshika Manobik Unnyan Kendra for raising huge multistoried apartments for allotting those to the slum poor at nominal monthly rent that they would pay in long 3o years. You know the later part of the sad story, the plant was not implemented because of bureaucratic conspiracy .  Bhashantek has finally occupied by the vested quarters through various devious tactics. 

Dhaka is now a megacity. For the last successive three terms you are in charge of serving the nation. You have taken a lot of schemes to make Dhaka as one of the most beautiful and attractive city that would be praised by not only Dhaka dwellers but by the whole world. For implementing various development projects, some times it becomes indispensable for evicting slum dwellers.  At the time of eviction, they are always assured of proper rehabilitation. But once the eviction is made, little care is taken by the competent authorities to fulfill their commitment for arranging alternative shelters for the evicted people. With the bulldozed of their shelters, their hopes and dreams for getting some suitable roofs on their heads are also disappeared in most cases. 

Dear Prime Minister, you have made epoch -making successes in providing shelters to the landless , river eroded  and homeless people of the country. Under various schemes like "Ekti Bari - Ekti Khamar" (one hose - one farm), "Ashrayan  Prokalpa" , "Guchchagram" (Cluster village) etc. you have already given houses to over one million people. Similar number of people would get similar number of shelters soon which are under construction processes. We draw your kind attention to the plight of slum dwellers of the capital as well as  other cities of the country. Only in Dhaka city there are 5000 slums and the inmates are in constant threat of eviction. Besides, they are lack of civil amenities, infrastructural and service facilities. You may like to instruct all concerned quarters of your government to ensure alternative arrangements in true perspective before bulldozing the slums and dreams of the poor people.