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Speaking out against poverty in Bangladesh
A mock National Poverty Tribunal was held in Dhaka on 21st August 2008, Thursday. The tribunal, jointly organized by People’s forum on MDGs (PFM) Bangladesh and People’s Empowerment Trust (PET), was headed by retired justice Golam Rabbani and attended by eminent political leaders from the four major political parties, anti poverty goodwill ambassador Taramon Bibi, famous folk (Lalon) singer Farida Perveen and members of civil society.
Grassroots representatives from various districts submitted their petitions to the jury bench seeking justice and fair wages:
Workers from the tea garden demanded fair wages instead of the 30 Taka per day they receive, which is less then the price of 1 kg rice. They also demanded access to health service in the tea gardens, including safe drinking water and hygienic latrine.
Kohinoor, an urban slum dweller, demanded that her rights to basic essential services be met so that her children do not have to suffer the deprivation and pangs of hunger which she suffered.
Mozammel, a landless day labourer who remained unemployed for six months, demanded respite from money lenders and to find a regular source of income.
Laxmi, a student of class nine coming from a family of city cleaners, demanded rights to education and a life of dignity.
The judgment of the tribunal concluded with the verdict that articles of the Bangladesh constitution that ensure the basic human rights of the citizen to food, shelter, education, health and nutrition must be complied to ensure the constitutional rights of the citizen and thereby end poverty and establish equality and justice.
This tribunal was part of a series of poverty hearings and tribunals taking place across the world ahead of the UN High Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals which will take place in New York on September 25th.
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