Sramik Nirapotta Forum, a platform of different civil society organisations and trade unions working for labour rights, on Friday demanded adequate compensation for the family members of Tazreen fire victims and punishment to the people responsible for the tragedy.A total of 117 workers were killed and over 200 injured in the fire at Tazreen Fashions at Ashulia on the outskirts of Dhaka on November 24, 2012.Sramik Nirapotta Forum observed the day through various programmes, including procession and rally on Friday.Workers and leaders of various RMG and other factories and members and leaders rights organisations took part in the events.They paid tribute to the Tazreen fire victims by placing wreaths at the grave at Zurain graveyard at 9:00 am and later held a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club at 11:00 am. They also took out a procession and paraded the adjoining areas with the slogan, “we want safe workplace for all and proper compensation for all victims of all workplace accidents.”Sramik Nirapotta Forum Convener Dr Hamida Hossain, Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) Joint Coordinator and Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra General Secretary Dr Wazedul Islam Khan, Samajtantrik Sramik Front General Secretary Razekuzzaman Ratan, IndustriALL Bangladesh Council (IBC) Secretary General Tawhidur Rahman, Jatiya Sramik Jote Bangladesh General Secretary Naimul Ahsan Jewel, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) executive council members Umma Hassan Jhalmal and Kazi Rahima Akhter Sathi, Jatiya Sramik Jote Working President Abdul Wahed and Secretary Nurul Amin, Jatiya Sramik Federation President Kamrul Ahsan Khan, Sramik Nirapotta Forum Member Secretary and BILS Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed spoke on the occasion.Besides, representatives of Safety and Rights, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association, Bangladesh Labour Federation, Karmojibi Nari, Awaj Foundation, Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation and Nari Pakhha were present at the events.Speakers at the rally called upon the government to bring workers under the protection of labour law, fix a national standard of compensation for the victims of workplace accidents, take steps to rehabilitate the injured workers and ensure their treatment.They also demanded a separate unit in all hospitals for the accident victims and also a specialised hospital for the workers.Another report adds: Several hundred people, including relatives of the deceased, injured workers and labour leaders of different organisations gathered in front of the factory gate at Ashulia and later placed floral wreaths at the graves of the deceased.After placing wreaths, Taslima Akter Lima, coordinator of Bangladesh Garment Workers’ Solidarity, said: “Although five years have passed after the tragedy, the government could not ensure rehabilitation of the survivors and ensure justice for the victims”.She also urged the government to ensure compensation and rehabilitation of the families of the deceased and injured workers.
