Settlement

Bangladesh, the largest delta of the world has always been a place of harmonious amalgamation among different minute populace mainly with a majority of Bangla speaking people with a sharp blend of different cultures. We contemplate their ways of continued colourful existence and step into their lives.During the controvercial era of 'Æ'"¹ -- "partition'numbers of peaople migrated to then East Pakistan as either refugee or worker. They came here not only from Bihar, but also from the different states of India. They speak Urdu, Bihari (regional language) and Bangla language. Their living style and their own language made them a unique minor community.These minority communities live in 70 camps in different districts of Bangladesh. They are Muslim and most of them reside at Geneva Camp, Mohammadpur in Dhaka which is the largest settlement of the country.Due to their unsettled condition then, International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) came forward with the initiative to establish several camps in different places and brought them in camps for their safety. With this perspective ICRC's biggest camp 'Æ'"¹ -- "New Geneva Colony', locally known as 'Æ'"¹ -- "Geneva Camp' was formed at Mohammadpur, Dhaka in 1972. Since then a new movement of their life begins. More than 25000 people started living in that area.In April 24, 1974 a tri-nation deed among India, Pakistan and Bangladesh was signed. For this agreement a great number of these migrants got the opportunity to return Pakistan and rest of them remained living here with their family members. Abdul Jabbar Khan, President of Stranded Pakistanis General Repatriation Committee (SPGRC) says, "We were brought here to help the Bangalees with their daily life when numbers of Hindus who had been engaged in different professions left this region after the partition." Questions on how do they stand with Liberation War in 1971, Mr. Khan states, "Though some opportunists go for Pakistan's side being alluded by the local miscreants, we love this country like any Bangalee. We always believe in non-violance. But sometimes we have been discriminated."On April 20, 1986 a heavy fire turned the entire Geneva Camp into ashes. After that some of the inhabitants built their houses with bricks. Previously the houses were made of bamboo and raw materials.Men & women of the community involve in handicrafts like karchupi (Jaari work), hazarbuti (Badhla), sewing etc. Besides these men do embroidery work, driving and pulling rickshaws. Some of them run betel shop, grocery shop, supplies shop, hairdresser shop, hotels, biriani shops (Polao Dokan), kebab corner (Chap Dokan), etc. A few of them works as security guards. The butchers of this area are very renowned. A good number of young boys engage with selling meat, mutton, hen, fish and vegetables.Md. Golam Hossen, owner of a metal workshop said, "we celebrate the religious festivals (Eid, Shab-e-Barat etc.) like other muslims. After so many years spending here, we come closer with the locals but we need more humanitarian assistance from the govt."In August 2008, the Election Commission began a drive to register the Urdu-speaking communities in the settlements around Bangladesh. This was an important first step towards integrating these minority communities into Bangladeshi society. Over several days, the Commission employed enumerators to take forms from door to door, registering hundreds of people each day. Now all camp residents are Bangladeshi citizens and all of them have National ID cards. Despite recent progress in voter and ID registration, however, 37 years of non-recognition have left this community living in abject poverty and vulnerable to discrimination. We look forward to the govt for further enhancement to this settlement.