One Left Behind? Barriers to Urban Inclusion for Harijan Communities in Bangladesh under SDG 2030

The structural and institutional barriers facing sustainable urban inclusion among Harijan communities in Bangladesh, particularly in the Ganakatuli Sweeper Colo[1]ny, are explored. Despite their significant contribution to urban sanitation, this community is unable to move forward in a cycle of poverty, social stigma, and institutional neglect. This community living in Bangladesh is also known as Dalit Harijan. Based on a six-month mixed-methods field study (March-August 2023), the study included household surveys (n=150), in-depth interviews (n=30), focus group discussions, participant observation and case study to reveal patterns of exclusion related to housing, water access, employment, and education. In the study, findings show that only 35% of Harijan households have access to clean water, while 85% live in crowded one-room dwellings with shared sanitation facilities, with rooms measuring 10 x 10 feet. Only 15% have legal property security, and that too is outside the area. Hindu Harijans face increasing marginalization, as political bias shifts sanitation work to Muslim sanitation workers. Gender-based exclusion is also prevalent, with Harijan women facing low wages, domestic violence, and exclusion from decision-making. It also highlights disconnect between the realities of Harijans, including the Bangladesh government's guarantee of constitutional equality. The study shows how the invisibility of Harijans in policy planning in Bangladesh is undermining SDG 6 (clean water), SDG 10 (reduced inequality), and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities). It concludes with policy recommendations for inclusive urban planning, legal protection of Harijan rights, and community-driven development models.