A tenant’s welfare association protested the increasing hike in house and shop rents and alleged eviction of tenants in the city amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The group also demanded free vaccination to tenants in the city.
These were demanded at a human chain organised by the Tenants’ Council in the capital’s Khilgoan area on Sunday.
“Tenants across the county, including Dhaka, are facing discrimination and ordeal. House or shop rent can be increased in the pandemic and no tenants can be evicted on cancellation of contract or any other pretext,” said Md Baharan Sultan Bahar, central president of the Teants' Council.
The government will have to bear all the medical expenses of corona-infected tenants and all the tenants will have to be given free vaccine on priority basis, he added.
"Ever since the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country in March last year, we have repeatedly called on the government to stop the hike and eviction of ordinary tenants, but despite the call, there are complaints that many tenants have been forcibly evicted due to non-payment of rent on time," he said.
There are allegations that the flat owners took away valuables of tenants while many have also been beaten.
There have even been tragic incidents like the death of a tenant in a landlord's attack in Narayanganj while a six-month-old baby died in Khulna due to a landlord.
We want a fair investigation into all incidents of tenant abuse and demand severe punishment for those responsible, speakers at the event demanded.
