Christian Aid in partnership with Blast, Bandhu Social Welfare Society, Nagorik Uddyog, Wave Foundation organised a policy dialogue and photo exhibition on the livelihood of the minority communities, including dalit, plain land ethnic minority, transgender and persons with disability, with a project titled ‘Empowering left behind minority communities to effectively participate in the development process of Bangladesh project’ co-funded by the European Union on Tuesday in Dhaka, said a press release on Thursday.
Planning minister MA Mannan inaugurated the exhibition and said, ‘The constitution guarantees equal rights for all, so we all have to work on it to ensure the rights of the left behind minority communities.’
The project’s special visitor Charles Whitely, ambassador and head of delegation for the European Union in Bangladesh, highlighted how delighted the EU is to be a part of it and how the exhibition images tell the tale of suffering communities.
The Christian Aid country director Pankaj Kumar, lawmakers Rashed Khan Menon, Fazle Hossain Badsha, Manoranjan Shil Gopal, Aroma Dutta, Adiba Anjum Mita, Lutfun Nesa Khan, Md Kamruzzaman, director general, Bangladesh National Museum, Zakir Hossain, executive director, Nagorik Uddyog and Anisul Hoque, author and associate editor, Prothom Alo, Robayet Ferdous, professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka were present at the event.
Two persons from the dalit community and one tea plantation worker were present at the meeting and they exchanged views with the planning minister.
The project focuses on empowering dalit, hijra, transgender and ethnic minority communities, tea workers and persons with disabilities, so they can actively participate in the development process.
In the exhibition, a total of 90 photos taken by Mridul Kanti Goshsami were displayed that portrayed the struggles of minority communities towards dignified livelihoods.
The exhibition will be on till November 25.
