Photo : PID

DHAKA, July 10, 2025 (BSS) – Education Adviser Professor Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar today reiterated his commitment to supporting the Urdu-speaking community in realizing all their logical and reasonable demands, as he has consistently done in the past.

The assurance came during a meeting with a delegation from the community at his office in the Secretariat here, according to an official press release.

Welcoming the delegates in a cordial setting, Dr Abrar attentively listened to their concerns and expressed deep empathy for their situation. The delegation also congratulated Dr. Abrar on assuming his role as Education Adviser on behalf of the Urdu-speaking community. 

They remarked that through the courageous and skillful discharge of his responsibilities, he has earned an honorable place in history, setting a commendable example for all future governments.

The delegation highlighted various obstacles in accessing education stemming from confusion regarding the community’s citizenship status. They acknowledged that for over two decades, Dr. Abrar has played a leading role across multiple fronts in safeguarding the community’s basic human and civil rights—efforts that the Urdu-speaking population remembers with deep respect.

They said that the Urdu-speaking community has been living under extremely inhumane conditions in camps for the past 54 years. Following independence, the government entered into an agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure camp residence and access to electricity and water. 

Successive governments have upheld this arrangement. However, in certain regimes, attempts were made to evict camps and cut off electricity and water supply. These attempts were ultimately thwarted due to administrative/executive orders and subsequent court interventions, they said.

The representatives informed that following the assumption of power by the current interim government, the administration has issued threats of eviction and electricity disconnection, leaving camp residents in fear. They cited a recent attempt to evict a camp in Mirpur, Dhaka, which was halted by a court stay order after residents filed a writ petition. 

Similarly, electricity companies across the country are now citing a court ruling as justification for threatening disconnection.

In this context, the delegation made plea to Dr. Abrar, as a key member of the advisory council, to raise the matter in the council.

They also appealed for an administrative/executive order to ensure electricity and water supply and to prevent any evictions before a dignified, permanent rehabilitation of camp residents is arranged.

The education adviser attentively listened to the delegation’s concerns in a cordial setting. He reaffirmed his commitment to providing all necessary cooperation to fulfill the fair and reasonable demands of the Urdu-speaking community.