Towhid Hossain Sarkar:
Advocate Atiqur Rahman, Central President of the Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation, said, “The government has taken a stand against the people with the mandate of the people.” He said this in his speech as the chief guest at the Trade Union and Responsible Rally organized in Pabna.
Describing the history of the founding of the Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation, the chief guest said that through 58 years of struggle, sacrifice and movement, the organization has been established as a strong and ideal-based organization in the labor arena of the country. The current position of this organization, one of the main labor organizations of the country, is a manifestation of the trust and support of the working people.
He said that even before independence, this organization started its journey with the aim of establishing the rights of the working people under the leadership of Barrister Qurban Ali, who was the then Central Chief Advisor, working among the workers. Being an ideological and Islamic value-based organization, the organization had to face various obstacles and dangers during the tenure of different governments at different times. Especially during the previous government, the leaders and activists of the organization have been subjected to obstruction of meetings, false cases, arrests, remands and various types of harassment. Even the implementation of programs under the banner of labor unity has faced obstacles.
Advocate Atiqur Rahman said that the labor movement in Bangladesh has been bound by a conventional ideology for a long time. The Labor Welfare Federation is working to change that ideology and build an alternative labor movement based on justice, humanity and Islamic ideals. He said that for many years, labor organizations of different ideologies have talked about the liberation of workers, but have not been able to bring about fundamental changes in the quality of life of the country’s workers.
He asked, “Despite the long history of labor movements, have the country’s workers received fair wages? Have they received a safe working environment? Has the right to eight-hour labor been established in reality?” He said that even today, countless workers are deprived of fair wages despite working for 10 to 16 hours. When workers join the movement to achieve their rights, they often face repression.
Referring to tragic accidents like Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions, he said that these incidents prove that the country’s workers are still deprived of a safe working environment. He commented that the state has failed to take effective initiatives to protect the lives and dignity of workers.
Expressing concern about the current economic situation, he said that the lives of working people are becoming increasingly miserable due to the unbridled rise in commodity prices. Even though salaries have increased, the benefits are not reaching the workers due to the increase in the prices of daily necessities. He alleged that the government has failed to meet the expectations of the people and has not been able to play an effective role in regulating the market.
Criticizing various decisions of the government, he said that the increase in the prices of fuel oil, gas and electricity has further increased the cost of living of the common people. A permanent solution to the problem is not possible with limited assistance or family cards alone; rather, the main responsibility of the government should be to control the prices of commodities and increase the purchasing power of the people.
He said that in the hope of establishing a non-discriminatory and humane society, the country’s workers have sacrificed themselves by participating in various movements in the past. But the desired development of the fair rights, dignity and standard of living of the workers has not yet taken place. In this situation, the government must play a more responsible role in the interest of the working people.
Calling on the government, he said that a new wage board must be formed quickly in line with the cost of living of the workers. Where work is taken for more than eight hours, fair remuneration for overtime must be ensured. At the same time, he demanded the introduction of a rationing system, increase employment and adopt worker-friendly policies to improve the standard of living of the working people.
In the last part of his speech, Advocate Atiqur Rahman said that there is no alternative to building a social system of morality, justice and Islamic values ​​​​to establish the true freedom, justice and human dignity of the workers. He called on the workers to strengthen the movement to realize their rights in a united manner.
The rally, chaired by District Vice President Mujibur Rahman, was also attended by Federation Central Vice President Golam Rabbani and Central Deputy General Secretary and Regional Director Professor Abdul Matin. District General Secretary Badiuzzaman moderated the program.
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