Over the years, their roles expanded to include various forms of sanitation work, but their socio-economic status has remained largely unchanged. They are still confined to specific areas known as "sweeper colonies," where generations of families live in substandard conditions.
The Horijon community, often referred to as the sweeper community in Dhaka, Bangladesh, plays an essential role in maintaining urban sanitation. Despite their invaluable contributions, they remain one of the most marginalized and stigmatized groups in the country. Facing discrimination, poor living conditions, and limited access to education and healthcare, the Horijon community continues to struggle for dignity, rights, and recognition in society.
Historical Background
The Horijon community, primarily consisting of Dalits, was brought to present-day Bangladesh during the British colonial era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The British administration recruited them from different parts of India, particularly from Bihar, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh, to work as manual scavengers, sweepers, and drainage cleaners in the cities. These workers were segregated and forced to live in designated colonies, a practice that has continued to this day.
During the Pakistan period (1947-1971), the Horijon community continued to face systemic exclusion, with little opportunity to move beyond sanitation work. Their condition did not significantly improve after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, as caste-based discrimination remained ingrained in society. Although sanitation became an even more critical necessity in rapidly urbanizing cities like Dhaka, the Horijon people were still denied fundamental rights and opportunities for upward mobility.
Over the years, their roles expanded to include various forms of sanitation work, but their socio-economic status has remained largely unchanged. They are still confined to specific areas known as "sweeper colonies," where generations of families live in substandard conditions.
