Hundreds of Harijan community members and sanitation workers are facing uncertainty after authorities ordered the evacuation of the historic Miniads Quarters (Sweeper Colony) located inside the Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford) Hospital premises in Dhaka. According to an official notice issued by the hospital, all residents must vacate the quarters and adjacent buildings by August 30, 2026.
Hospital sources said the notice, signed by Director Dr. Mohammad Habibur Rahman (Memo No. Pari/Mihaj/26/17278, dated July 30, 2026), states that the decision to demolish the buildings was taken in accordance with directives from the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Construction Branch, and the Public Works Department (PWD).
The notice says the PWD has already completed the tender process for the demolition. Demolition work is scheduled to begin within 15 days from September 20, 2026, following an earlier directive issued by the department on May 3, 2026.
It further states that electricity, gas, and water connections to the Miniads Quarters and other affected buildings will be disconnected from August 31, 2026. Residents have also been warned that if they fail to vacate within the stipulated deadline, they will bear responsibility for any consequences.
According to local residents, members of the Harijan community, employed for generations as sanitation workers, have lived in the settlement since the establishment of Mitford Hospital. They say the approximately 168-year-old settlement represents not only their homes but also an important part of their history, culture, and identity.
Representatives of the Harijan community have expressed concern that carrying out the eviction without ensuring rehabilitation would create a serious humanitarian crisis for hundreds of families. They argue that no eviction should take place without first providing alternative housing.
Hospital authorities, however, said the eviction is necessary to facilitate the construction of new infrastructure within the hospital premises. Community representatives and human rights advocates acknowledge the need for development but insist that safe and dignified rehabilitation of the affected families must be ensured before any eviction is carried out.
Harijan leaders have urged the government and the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to arrange proper rehabilitation, arguing that families who have lived in the settlement for more than a century and a half should not be displaced without adequate alternatives.
