Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed concern following reports that over a hundred families in an Ashrayan rehousing project in Dumuria upazila, Khulna, have had their homes damaged by river excavation work, demanding a full assessment of the damage and reparations.
The rights organisation noted in a press release that excavated soil was dumped near and on top of the houses, making them unsafe for habitation.
ASK called upon the relevant authorities to immediately conduct an impartial investigation into the affected Ashrayan project and carry out a full assessment of the damage. They further urged for the repair or reconstruction of the risky houses and the restoration of damaged tube wells and sanitation facilities.
According to reports, the pressure of the excavated earth has caused cracks in the buildings and destroyed tube wells and sanitation systems, leaving many families in a state of panic. ASK said while river re-excavation is a significant public interest initiative, no development activity should be conducted in a manner that endangers human life, housing, security, or dignity.
The organisation highlighted that these incidents suggest a deficiency in project planning, a lack of risk assessment, and insufficient importance given to the rights and safety of the affected community.
It is particularly alarming that families who were previously landless and homeless and subsequently rehabilitated by the state-are once again facing the threat of displacement and insecure living conditions.
ASK remarked that the damage caused to one state rehabilitation initiative by another development project reflects a serious failure in administrative coordination.
The rights body reminded that Article 15 of the Constitution of Bangladesh outlines the state’s responsibility to meet the basic needs of citizens, while Articles 31 and 32 recognise the right to protection of law and personal security.
Additionally, safe and dignified housing is a fundamental human right under international declarations, which the state is duty-bound to respect, protect, and ensure.
ASK has called upon the relevant authorities to immediately conduct an impartial investigation into the affected Ashrayan project and carry out a full assessment of the damage. They further urged for the repair or reconstruction of the risky houses and the restoration of damaged tube wells and sanitation facilities.
