Educationists and rights activists on Friday urged workers to be well-organised to realise their demand for living wages to maintain a decent standard of living. At a rally they also said workers of all sectors should be united to realise their demands for security and democratic environment at workplaces. Bangladesh Garments Sramik Sanghati organised the first central conference in front of the National Press Club demanding security, living wage and democratic environment at workplaces. National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports member secretary and Jahangirnagar University professor Anu Muhammad said the present situation in Bangladesh was an example of what happens if people are not united. It is very difficult for workers to survive at the present rate of wages while they are also deprived of security and health at workplaces, he said. If any worker protests at any irregularity s/he falls victim to torture, enforced disappearance and killing, the Professor said. Against about five crore workers in the country, the few owners are strong because they were very united and have state organisations on their side, he said. The movement of garment workers will be successful if workers of all sectors join them, he added. BGSF coordinator Taslima Akhter said the authorities never give thought to how the country’s 44 lakh garment workers are living, eating and working in inhumane condition at the minimum wage of Tk 5,300. If the workers are not cared for, the readymade garment sector will not developed, she said. Taslima urged the workers to be united in the fight for their dignity and realise their rights to live a decent life. While inaugurating the conference Trade Union Federation president Shah Atiul Islam said the government is claiming that Bangladesh will become a middle-income country while its workers are living and working in inhumane conditions. The workers are not begging for some kindness and only want to live as human beings, for which the owners and state both are responsible, he said. Dhaka University mass communications and journalism professor Gitiara Nasreen said workers were role models for the people to make Bangladesh a middle-income country. Ganasanghati Andolon chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said though the workers participated in the Liberation War of 1971 they still had to struggle through movement for living wages, security and healthy workplaces. He urged the authorities to set a national minimum wage for workers. The rally was attended, among others, by Nari Sanghati president Shyamoli Shil, Protibesh Andolan coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation president Saikat Mollick, Garib Mukto Andolan president Shamsuzzaman Milon and JU teacher Mahmudul Shumon.
