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Garment workers and leaders vented their disappointment and anguish at the news of the bail of Rana Plaza building owner Sohel Rana. Condemning the incident, they demanded the cancellation of Sohel Rana’s bail.
They made this demand in a human chain organised by Bangladesh Garment and Sweaters Workers Trade Union Center Savar-Ashulia Regional Branch in front of Fantasy Kingdom in Ashulia yesterday (April 7).
President of Savar-Ashulia Regional Branch Saifullah Al Mamun, General Secretary Khairul Mamun Mintu, General Secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Center Savar-Ashulia Regional Committee Manjurul Islam Manju spoke in the programme.
The speakers said that the High Court granted bail to Sohel Rana, the owner of the building, in the murder case filed over Rana Plaza collapse and casualties. As a result, the lawyers said there is no obstacle to his release from prison.
But workers from all over the world, including Bangladesh, have been demanding justice for the murder of all workers of Rana Plaza. The government is not ensuring the rehabilitation of the families of the workers killed in Rana Plaza and the rehabilitation of the injured workers, medical compensation, but rehabilitating the responsible persons. We are very disappointed and angry about the news of the bail of Sohel Rana, the owner of Rana Plaza building, they said.
The labour leaders said that the owners of the factories kept the factories open in a planned manner despite knowing that the building was full of risk. When the workers protested, the owner of the Rana Plaza building intimidated the workers and forced them to enter the factory.
In that incident, more than five and a half thousand garment workers were buried under the building. Around 1,138 bodies were recovered and about 3,000 workers were rescued alive from under the rubble, most of whom survived with paralysis.
At that time, garment workers across the country protested the killing of workers in Rana Plaza, the government was forced to arrest Sohel Rana, the building owner. Garment factory owners were given bail though they were liable.
The speakers also said that every year when the time of Eid comes, the garment owners start arguing about the workers’ Eid bonus and arrears of salary. This year also the owners have started crying, while the garment owners have sought special incentives from the government to give salary and bonuses to the workers.
They said that without arguing about the salary and bonus, the Eid bonus should be equal to one month’s salary and April’s salary must be paid within 20th of Ramadan.
Along with this, they demanded the announcement of a minimum wage of Tk 23,000, an end to retrenchment and torture of workers, reduction of prices of daily commodities and the introduction of a rationing system for workers.
Meanwhile, in a human chain at Barisal the Bangladesh Trade Union Center (TUC) demanded payment of arrears of workers’ salaries and bonuses before Eid.
The TUC Barisal District Committee made the human chain held in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in the city.
Labour leader Advocate AK Azad chaired the programme while leader of the various sectors principal Mizanur Rahman Salim, JK Mukul, Professor Biplab Das, Noor Hossain, Tushar Sen, Alam Khan, Sheikh Abul spoke at the human chain.
They said that the salary and bonus should be paid to the workers at least 10 days ahead of Eid. Along with this, sufficient vehicles should be arranged and vehicle fares should be reduced.
TDM/SD
