Social Relations of Sweepers in Bangladesh

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Since 1998, we had conducted a survey, " Change of Political Structure, Social Structure and the locality by Modernization and Internationalization : case studies of Bangladesh and Japan". We came to know about the significance of Caste issue in the Islam society, and the sweeper caste groups located at the bottom of Hindu Society and most severely discriminated.Chittagong has 4 Hindu sweepers colonies. We do the survey with questionnaire of all households of Bandel Sweeper Colony in April 2000.Based on the above previous research work, we started this new research work. It consists of various types of surveys. Through the surveys from 2002 to 2005, we had the following findings;1. Chittagong :Shelters (housing) in Colonies are provided to only Hindu sweepers. Muslim sweepers are not bothered to stay anywhere by citizens of Chittagong, but Hindus are done, because of their being recognized as the lowest in a social economic strata by which they tend to be excluded socially. Hindu sweepers consist of two groups, one for north India origin = 'Harijan' and another for Bengal origin = 'Bengal Hindu'.2. Dhaka :Both Hindus and Muslims live separately in City Corporation's Sweepers Colonies. Hindu sweepers in Dhaka consist of two groups ; one for migrants from north India same as in Chittagong which is called 'Harijan', and another from south India, present Andhra Pradesh, India, which is called 'Telugue'. There are ethnic sub groups in each group by caste and religion. The severest restriction is intermarriage with other ethnic sub groups. So, they live separately in each ethnic group colony.