Pro-labour forces in Bangladesh have demanded the unconditional release of eight labour leaders who are now behind bars in a case filed over vandalism at the office of Bangladesh Apparel Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and attacking some officers and employees of the institution.
An alliance of 12 pro-worker platforms has placed forward the demand after a meeting over the issue, held in Dhaka, on April 3, 2018. Meeting sources said that the pro-labour groups have laid out an elaborate plan to move with the demand for the unconditional release of the labour leaders.
“We call out to the Government and the necessary authorities for the release of labour leaders. We are warning you, otherwise, you (Government) would have to face tough movement,” said Mushrefa Mishu, President of Garment Sramik Oikya Forum.
Furthermore, another meeting is scheduled to be held between the 12 platforms today.
On April 1, 2018, a local court in Dhaka denied bail to the seven labour leaders and sent them to jail over attacking and assaulting officials and employees of the BGMEA back in January this year.
The accused are: Jolly Talukder, General Secretary of Trade Union Centre (TUC), its Organising Secretary KM Mintu, International Secretary Monjur Moin, Gazipur District Unit General Secretary Jalal Howlader, Savar-Ashulia Unit Member Lutfor Rahman, Central Committee Member Mohammad Shahjahan, and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Central Committee Member Sajedur Rahman Shamim.
Earlier on January 31, 2018, Major (Retd.) Rafiqul Islam, Additional Secretary (Administration) of BGMEA, filed an attempted murder case with Ramna Police Station against 12 people.
BGMEA seems to be in news for all the wrong reason these days. Recently, the body received a one-year extension to demolish its complex yet again. The association need to come out of all these and work for the betterment of the country’s potential garment manufacturing sector.
