Tawhid Hossain Sarkar:
Advocate Atiqur Rahman, Central President of Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation, said that instead of 8 hours, workers are still being forced to work for 12 to 16 hours.
The Workers Welfare Federation is agitating to build a Bangladesh free of discrimination to improve the fate of the working class.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the Rangpur-Dinajpur Region Responsible and Separate Workers Rally and the reception of the elected members of the National Parliament of Rangpur held at the Shilpakala Academy Auditorium in Rangpur city on Saturday morning.
The first session of the program, chaired by Mohammad Golam Rabbani, Vice President of the Central Committee and Regional Director of Rangpur-Dinajpur Region, was attended by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Khulna Port Workers Union, Assistant Regional Director and Central Executive Member of Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation Rangpur-Dinajpur Region, Professor Abul Hashem Badal, Assistant Regional Director and Central Organizing Secretary Professor Zahur Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Rangpur Metropolitan Advisor and Central Working Committee Member of Jamaat-e-Islami Vice Principal Maulana ATM Azam Khan and District Advisor Maulana Enamul Haque, Nilphamari District President Mohammad Moniruzzaman Jewel, Central Working Committee Member and Thakurgaon District President Matiur Rahman, President of Rangpur Metropolitan Branch of Workers Welfare Federation Advocate Kausar Ali and District President Belal Abedin, District Secretary Harun Ur Rashid, Panchagarh District President Abul Basar Basunia, Lalmonirhat District President Ronajel Alam and District Secretary Professor Nurul Haque Emon, Kurigram District President Advocate Eliasin and District Secretary Ataur Rahman, Gaibandha District President Nurubi Prodhan, Dinajpur District President Zakir Hossain and Secretary Enamul Haque MS, among others, spoke.
The speech is presented in a concise and eloquent form below— The Honorable Chief Guest Advocate Atiqur Rahman said, “Honorable brothers, today we who are present here are all leading the workers’ field. According to government estimates, about 75 million people are recognized as workers in Bangladesh. The responsibility of improving the fate of this huge working class, establishing their rights, improving their standard of living and protecting them from oppression and torture lies primarily with the labor organizations.
Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation is one of the oldest labor organizations in the country. Established in 1968 during the East Pakistan period, this organization was registered in Bangladesh after independence. Since its establishment, the organization has been making every effort to realize the rights of workers, establish fair demands and protect their interests.
He said, many governments have come to the country after independence. Although everyone has made worker-friendly statements, in reality the basic problems of the workers have not been resolved. Even though 140 years have passed since the Chicago Movement of 1886, even today, workers are completely demanding fair wages, fixed working hours, job security and the freedom of trade unions.
He complained that even now, when workers protest for fair wages, they are shot dead. In some places, instead of 8 hours, they are forced to work for 12 to 16 hours. In many cases, workers are treated like slaves. There is no job security, there is no certainty of when they will be laid off. Millions of male and female workers in factories are working in uncertainty.
He also said that in some industrial establishments, workers are blacklisted so that if they are laid off from one establishment, they cannot get a job elsewhere. However, despite the existence of the Ministry of Labor, the Department of Labor and the Department of Factories, labor torture, discrimination and unfair layoffs are not stopping. Women workers are also suffering from insecurity. Even when they go to form a trade union, workers are subjected to harassment and deprivation.
He said that in the last 15 years, pro-government labor organizations have been involved in tender rigging, occupation and transfer trade instead of securing the rights of workers. Those who talk about the fair demands of workers They have been subjected to repression and oppression. Even though they held domestic meetings, false cases and arrests have been filed against leaders and activists.
He said that today, after the fall of the fascist forces, many leaders of those organizations cannot be found. However, the need for real labor leadership is greatest today. Because, a class of leaders have taken advantage of the interests of the workers by compromising with the ruling class. As a result, the labor movement of the country is suffering from a leadership crisis today.
He told the leaders and activists present that everyone must work together to achieve the rights of the workers, strengthen the trade union movement and improve the living standards of the working people. The liberation of the workers is not possible without honest, courageous and strong leadership.
He asked, “Are you ready to work on behalf of the workers?” At this time, the leaders and activists present supported him with a loud ‘yes’.
Finally, he said, “If we fail to lead properly, then the workers will be deceived again and again by following dishonest leadership and their just rights will never be established.”
In the second session of the rally at the same place in the afternoon, Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal, MP from Rangpur-3 Sadar constituency and member of the Central Working Committee of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, MP from Rangpur-1 Gangachara constituency and Assistant Secretary of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Professor Maulana Raihan Siraji, MP from Rangpur-6 Pirganj constituency and member of the Central Shura of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Professor Maulana Nurul Amin were felicitated. Speaking as the guest of honor at the event, Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal MP said that workers will one day gain the ability to run the state through the implementation of Islamic labor policies after being freed from oppression and bondage. Professor Maulana Raihan Siraji MP said that workers not only build houses, they have also fulfilled the responsibility of building the state in the mass movement of 24. Professor Maulana Nurul Amin MP said that over the ages, workers have built new dreams for people’s lives with their blood and sweat, but their fate has not changed.
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