PCJSS leader Satyabir Dewan released on bail

Source: PCJSS

On 25 August 2010 around 4.30 pm former general secretary of PCJSS was released on bail from Chittagong jail in accordance with bail granted on 4 August 2010 by a High Court bench.

No sooner of arrival in Rangamati, the workers and supporters of PCJSS and its front organisations gave a reception on the occasion of release of Mr. Dewan with vice president of PCJSS Mr. Ushatan Talukdar in the chair at Rangamati PCJSS district office. The speakers of reception protested the barbaric arrest and brutal torture of Mr. Dewan and other workers and supporters of PCJSS by the joint forces and then Caretaker Government. They also condemned joint forces and then Caretaker Government for trying to destroy PCJSS leadership by taking the advantage of State of Emergency in 2007-2009.

On 18 February 2007 the Joint Forces (army and police) led by Lt. Kazi Mustafizur Rahman of Rangamati army region and Md. Osman Goni, PSI of Kotowali police station of Rangamati district arrested Mr. Satyabir Dewan (56) s/o Hira Lal Dewan of village Balpiya Adam in Rangamati municipality from his home. He is arrested putting a country-made pipe-gun under the bed sheet. In total six false cases were lodged against him with different police station.

The session judge court of Chittagong Divisional Commissioner awarded 17 years rigorous imprisonment to Mr. Dewan in May 2007 for keeping illegal arms and 2 year for keeping illegal foreign currency after summary trials under dubious conditions. He appealed against the verdict of judge court to the High Court.

Mr. Dewan thanked all workers and supporters of PCJSS, lawyers, national and international human rights activists, media workers and civic groups of the country for supporting to release him.

Harijan people demand job quota, wage hike

Source: The Daily Star

Harijan people join a human chain programme in Barisal city yesterday demanding wage hike and 80 percent job quota for them in government and non-government organisations. Similar programmes were held in other districts across the country. Photo: STARStar National Desk

Members belonging to the Harijan community yesterday formed human chains and staged processions in different districts across the country to protest hiring of cleaners and sweepers at government and non-government organisations from other castes.

They demanded that the organisations ensure 80 percent quota for Harijan people in the jobs.

In Joypurhat, several hundred Harijan people gathered in front of Joypurhat Girls' High School in the morning and brought out a procession from there to protest hiring of cleaners and sweepers in the government and non-government organisations from other castes, reports our correspondent.

After parading the main streets in the town, they formed a human chain for an hour in front of the deputy commissioner's office and also submitted a memorandum to him (DC).

Our Pabna correspondent reported that Harijan people formed a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner office at around 2:00pm.

They later submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner demanding 80 percent job quota for them at government and non-government organisation.

They also demanded wage hike and urged the government to give attention to 15 lakh Harijan people.

In Manikganj, a procession was brought out in the district town at noon demanding 80 percent job quota for Harijan people at government and non-government offices, according to our correspondent.

Around 300 hundred people of the Harijan Community under the banner of "Manikganj unit of Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad" joined a human chain programme on the premises of the deputy commissioner's office.

Addressing a rally at the venue, Manikganj district unit President of Harijan Oikya Parishad Ripon Jamader said the government and non-government organisations are hiring people from other classes in the job of cleaner and sweeper.

He sought government's interference in this issue and demanded 80 percent job quota for Harijan people in the organisations.

Later, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner. Similar programmes were held in other districts.