Organisations like Oxfam, Karmajibi Nari, and the Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS) have jointly called for immediate and effective actions to address the discriminatory wage systems, ensure timely payment of wages, and establish a secure working environment that upholds the rights of all the garment workers.
In a press release, the organisations expressed their deep shock and strong condemnation of the murder of workers’ rights leader Shahidul Islam on 25th June 2023 even as they demanded the state and responsible authorities take urgent steps to conduct an impartial investigation and ensure a fair trial for the murder of Shahidul Islam, while also safeguarding all worker activists and upholding human rights.
The organisations called upon the state to promptly initiate an impartial investigation into this homicide, carry out a fair trial based on the investigation’s findings, and deliver stringent verdicts for the convicted individuals.
Furthermore, the representatives of these organisations expressed their belief that immediate and effective measures must be taken by the relevant authorities to prevent situations where wages and allowances are not paid on time, as such conditions contributed to the occurrence of this crime.
They emphasised that unless fundamental rights enshrined in labour laws, such as fair wages, workplace rights, and safety for women in labour-intensive environments, are ensured, similar incidents could happen again in the future.
