Brief Report

Eviction at Kazifuri Slum in Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Date of eviction: April 3, 2013

Location of eviction: Kazifuri Primary School Field, Ward no: 8, unit 4, Thana: Shah Ali, Mirpur Click here to see in Google Maps (http://bit.ly/11DPsHW)

Just after 1 year of Karail Eviction (April 4, 2012), there was another shocking eviction in Mirpur on April 3, 2013!

The story: The evicted place belongs to Kazifuri Primary School. The place has been illegally occupied by some local house owners for many years. Those locals have been renting the site to slum dwellers and getting income out of the place. Some slum dwellers reported that they have been living in this slum for 30/32 years. The Kazifuri School has been running a legal fight with the local house owners. Finally, the school got decree from the Court for the land. Accordingly, the school provided notice to the house owners 3 months back. Unfortunately, they did not inform to the slum dwellers. Slum dwellers received the announcement on April 2, 2013 in the evening.

Eviction on April 3: The local Officer in Charge (OC) of local Shah Ali police station and a Magistrate along with other force conducted the eviction with Bulldozer and other instruments.

Loses: This Kazifuri Slum was a quite old slum. People have been living there for nearly 30-35 years. All together, all households, nearly 800-900 have been fully destroyed by the eviction. 26 Community Latrine and 3 Water Points established by Water Aid, DSK and NGOs have also been fully destroyed.

DSK BHHs: 240 BHHs of Shiree Phase 2 have been affected by the incident from the total of 800-900. All

BHHs have lost their households and some belonging as well. Some BHHs have faced have

other losses like looting of their assets during the transition, physical harassment by the

locals. Total 27 BHHs received Physical Assets and other support from the project while 2 BHHs

have lost their assets during the eviction running. However, most of the BHHs have been able to

shift their asset to other nearby places as they have received announcement day before.

Support: The affected slum dwellers as well as the BHHs have not received any support from any local/ official / GOB etc. People have been staying under the sky with even 1 month old child.

DSK initiatives: The evicted area is under to Kamrangirchar 5 unit office. The Field Officers and the unit team have been with affected BHHs since yesterday. Project staff have been providing their support to BHHs to pack up the things and searching for the shelters. Most of the victims are literally staying under open sky. The project team is calculating the damage occurred due to eviction as well as doing need assessment. Senior Managers of DSK-shiree Project along with newly joined Project Director have been closely working with the local team to take remedial measures.

Urge of BHHs: Senior Managers of DSK-shiree Project and shiree team have visited the place. Both teams have had discussion with the BHHs, CBO leaders, CBO management committee members and project team. Most of the BHHs have urged for getting shelter. They have requested to the teams to provide shelter. If not possible, provide some financial support to rent a room. “At this stage we need a room to stay, then we can find out what to next. Getting a new room is the most necessary things for us” as mentioned by Pervin, secretary of CBO. “Please do something; our members are staying under open sky since yesterday even with a month old child. We need to find out new shelter, don’t know where to go” says Mr. Kaiyum, CBO Leader.

Action taken: DSK Team has taken decision to provide TK 2000 each BHH, who are available and badly needed the support. The team has prepared a list of 193 affected BHHs who are roaming around in the surrounding area. The project has put request to shiree and shiree approved accordingly. The project team is ready to provide this primary support as soon as possible. ______________ Report prepared by Sutapa Paul, Program Manager, Shiree and Tareq Salahuddin, Communications Manager, Shiree

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