Samata Party urges acceptance of workers' fair demands at rally in front of Press Club

The Bangladesh Samata Party has called for an end to repression of workers and for their fair demands to be accepted. Its leaders also urged that workers' movements not be suppressed by giving them a political label.

Party president Hanif Bangladeshi and general secretary Belal Hossain made the remarks on Thursday (5 November) at a rally protesting the killing of workers, organised by the party in front of the National Press Club in the capital.

At the rally, Hanif Bangladeshi said no movement can be suppressed by repressing workers, and their logical demands must be accepted. If workers survive, industry will survive, and if industry survives, Bangladesh will survive, he said. He also demanded that those conspiring against the industrial sector be brought under the law and tried.

Criticising the practice of linking workers' movements to the Awami League, he said that whenever garment workers, rickshaw workers, Ansar members or teachers launch a movement, an Awami League connection is sought in it. Workers' fair demands cannot be suppressed by giving protesters a political label in this way, he said.

He said the government must take effective steps to control prices, establish the rule of law and meet workers' fair demands. Repression of workers, and searches and harassment at their homes, must stop.

Hanif Bangladeshi also said the government should give up power if it cannot ensure public safety.

At the rally, general secretary Belal Hossain said prices must be brought down, otherwise a monthly wage of 30,000 taka for workers must be ensured.

Belal Hossain said equal rights must be ensured not only for garment workers but for all classes of workers, including motor workers, construction workers, expatriate workers, day labourers and rickshaw pullers.

He said that if workers are repressed by police instead of having their fair rights ensured, the workers will resist. He called on everyone to unite to establish workers' rights.

Journalist M Rahman and party members Mozammel Miazi, Alok Chowdhury, Yamin Khan and Bidhan Chowdhury, among others, were present at the rally.