Upholding Dalit Human Rights through inclusion in the Census- 2011

Upholding Dalit Human Rights through Inclusion in the Population Census- 2011

Population Census is a very important document for policy formulaiton, undertaking development programme and long term planning of the country. Bangladesh Government is going to conduct it's 5th Population Census on 15-19 March 2011. There is a trend in Bangladesh to show the population less than the authentic figure, to exclude minority, Dalit and Indigenous communities and not to recognize the traditional livelihood groups like Forest Peoples.

Planning meeting NGO, CSO, human rights activitists, politiacian



City Editor Daily Suprobhat Bangladesh M Nasirul Hoque is addressing the
media advocacy meeting was held at Chittagong Press Club

In the last population census in 2001, a large number of minorities from Hindu and Christian were excluded from counting. In an Upazila, Mohammadpur of Magura the 2001 census shown that the Hindu Population was 21,808 where the number of Hindu voter was 35,503 in Voter List of 2008. In Mongla, an Upazila of Bagerhat District the census shown the number of Chrisitan population was only 11 within 3 families. But there are more than 1,500 Christians in Mongla under 23 Churches.

The Dalit population of Bangladesh is not less than 5 million but they have no recognition in the state. The indigenous communities are also neglected in the population census.


To raise the voice of indigenous, Dalit and religious minority groups, please join with the group and add your vocal to include all socio-economic, political, religious and ethnic groups in the population census with equal treatment.

Law maker Abu Kashem Master, Chairman standing commiittee of Comerce Ministry
addressing the Divisional Consulttaion worksho

changed the group description to "Population Census is a very important document for policy formulaiton, undertaking development programme and long term planning of the country. Bangladesh Government is going to conduct it's 5th Population Census on 15-19 March 2011. There is a trend in Bangladesh to show the population less than the authentic figure, to exclude minority, Dalit and Indigenous communities and not to recognize the traditional livelihood groups like Forest Peoples. In the last population census in 2001, a large number of minorities from Hindu and Christian were excluded from counting. In an Upazila, Mohammadpur of Magura the 2001 census shown that the Hindu Population was 21,808 where the number of Hindu voter was 35,503 in Voter List of 2008. In Mongla, an Upazila of Bagerhat District the census shown the number of Chrisitan population was only 11 within 3 families. But there are more than 1,500 Christians in Mongla under 23 Churches. The Dalit population of Bangladesh is not less than 5 million but they have no recognition in the state. The indigenous communities are also neglected in the population census. To raise the voice of indigenous, Dalit and religious minority groups, please join with the group and add your vocal to include all socio-economic, political, religious and ethnic groups in the population census with equal treatment."

ISDE Bangladesh has initiated camapign to inclusion of Dalits in the population census with the joint collaboration with SHAREE and Admashumary Parjabekkan Uddog. The activities are press conference, discussion meeting, citizen dialouge and rally, publicity and raise voices of the community.

Advocate Rana Das Gupta is addressing the divissional dialouge

Advocate Rana Das Gupta, Central Secretary General Bangladesh Hindu Budda, Christian Oikkaya Parishad and renowned human rights activist is addressing the participants in the Divisional Dialogue on Inclusive Population Census organized by Adam Shumary Parjabekkahn Uddog, ISDE Bangladesh and SHAREE. While Lawmaker & Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry, the People Republic of Bangladesh Alhaj ABM Abul Kashem MP, City Editor dialy Suprobhat Bangaldesh M Nasirul Hoque, SHAREE Executive Director Prio Bala Bisawas, ISDE Bangladesh Executive Director S M Nazer Hossain, Distrct PP Advoacte Abul Hashem, CTG City Corporation Councilor Jahur Lala Hajari, CRCD Executive Director Kazi Iqbal Bahar Sabery, Government, Journalists, NGO Workers, Hindu-Christian-Dalit leaders and civil society representatives attended the Divisional Consultation Dialogue was held at 5^th March 2011 at Hotel Tower Inn International Conference hall.


Human chain was organized to demanding the rights at infront of Chittagong Press club

These are they, who are treated as the 'Missing People'. They are in the country but not in the records. It is that, which can be called a serious violation of Universal Human Rights!



Rall and Shoba jatra was march passed & procession at the main street of
Chittagong City Corporation areas with the particiaption of different section of people

Our Demands;
To ensure an inclusive of Daltis in Population Census 2011 with active involvement of all socioeconomic, religious and anthropological groups towards pluralist society with equity, we demand:

1. Selection of Animators (data collectors) from community level, from each of the religious, livelihood based and ethnic communities with equity and justice;
2. Formation of Civil Society Observation Team to monitor population census process with power to suggest the local offices of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS);
3. In column number 11.a of the questionnaire there is an option of including `Ethnic Minority Groups'. Some simple words like 'or Backward group' or 'Dalit group' can be add here. In the column number 11.b the authority can include some codes for Indigenous Munda, and Dalits with other codes;
4. In column number 25 of the questionnaire there are three sub-columns (agriculture, industry and service) under 'Occupation' column. A sub-column 'Specific Occupation' can be added under this column with codes for Cleaner, Pig Rearer, Sweeper, Cobbler, Hair Cutter, Bawali, Moual, Jele etc. along with other mainstream occupations.
5. The religious identities of the citizens are defined in column number 18. There are 5 sub-columns (Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Others) under this column without any code for Jain, Shikh, Bahai, nature worshipers or the secular/atheists. So, none can know the actual number of these small religious groups and the atheists and debates over the table would be continued. Some codes should be added under 'Others' to include all of the religious groups in the census.
6. Finally, the civil society groups, journalists, donor agencies and UN Agencies may raise their voice for an inclusive Population Census in Bangladesh. On the other hand, the government may take necessary actions to make the census effective, inclusive and transparent because only one change can change the situation: the mindset!