Press Release, 16 November 2016, Dhaka

Joint Committee for Tampaco Victims Support & Tampaco Fire Accident Victims' Forum

Demand for proper compensation for Tapaco Victims, punishment to all

responsible for the accident, claiming quick DNA report and safe workplace.

On 16 November 2016 in a press conference held at the National Press Club organized by ‘Joint Committee for Tampaco Victims Support’ & ‘Tampaco Fire Accident Victims' Forum’ urged appropriate compensation to the families of deceased and injured workers, stern punishment to the people responsible for the killing of 41 people killed in a massive fire triggered by explosions at Tampaco factory dated 10 September 2016. The organizer also claimed to give the DNA report of unidentified and missing death workers and demand to ensure safe workplaces for all workers including the access to form unions in all factories.

The press conference titled ‘compensation for Tapaco Victims, safe workplace, respect workers right to form union and ensure their representation; our demand’ was presided by Abdul Mazid (BAFLF), convener of Joint Committee for Tampaco Victims Support and it was moderated by joint committee member Md. Mujibul Haque Munir (COAST Trust). Joint committee member and spokesman of Tampaco Fire Accident Victims' Forum Sharmin Akther Shilpi (wife of death Anisur Rahman) presented the written statement on behalf of the organizers. Among others member of joint committee Rima Akther (NWFA), Sonjon Kumar Saha (BSK), Ripon Kumar Das (coordinator of victims forum) and victim family member Anjona Sarker, Rupali Begum, Nargis Akter, Shamima Parvin, Rabiul Islam, Sakibul Islam were present.              

In the written statement Shairmin Akther Shilpi explained the process of formation of victims’ forum. She mentioned that in the presence 87 members of 69 victims’ families Tampaco Fire Accident Victims' Forum was formed and one spokesman and one coordinator of victims' forum were elected in a meeting in Gazipur dated 6 November 2016. She also described the process of formation of Joint Committee for Tampaco Victims Support and its objectives. She added that BAFLF is doing coordinating action to support the victims and on how they get proper compensation. They are contacting with deceased workers’ family members and the injured workers. BAFLF planned to form a joint committee with same minded organizations working on Tampaco issue to make their effort fruitful and transparent. So, BAFLF wrote several organizations including ILO Dhaka office explaining their aim of formation joint committee and invited them to be part of joint committee.  

In the written statement Shairmin Akther Shilpi mentioned that by the terrible fire incidence of Tampaco Foils Ltd. 41 workers died and more than 50 workers were injured. 8 unidentified dead bodies were kept in DMC but 9 victims family have given blood sample for DNA test. She said they are waiting for DNA report for last 2 months. Unfortunately, till they didn’t get DNA report and the concern authority did not give any specific assurance when the victims will get the report. She claimed for  quick DNA test report.

The convenor of the joint committe Abdul Mazid said, in Bangladesh the tragic incident like Tampaco accident is happening repeatedly and hundreds of innocent workers are losing their lives, getting injured, and are left paralyzed forever. He added these killings are not a mere accident, these are murder. The incidents of the unexpected tragic murder occur frequently because of the violation of workers' rights to form unions and the continuous negligence of employers’ responsibility to make safe work place. He said Tampaco owner violated national labour law and international law.  Tampaco factory’s construction did not provide any adequate safety protection to workers and any access for effective firefighting. There was no stairs inside the building. Some workroom, especially the ground floor temperature was intolerable. There was no proper ventilation system.  Tampaco authority did not provide appointment letter to workers. Workers didn’t have any service book. There was no system of provident-fund, gratuity and group insurance for workers. Even in Tampaco there is no workers’ union. Tampaco disaster showed us how the denial of right to form unions and lack of access to representation allows employers to violate health and safety right and make workplace dangerous.

Abdul Mazid mentioned compensation is important and he urged Tampaco owner and the major clients of Tampaco including MNCs should pay compensation to the victims. At the same time he said it is clear to all why this happened. He emphasized on ensuring workplace safety and healthy environment including the access to form unions. Employers and concern Govt. authority must make sure that this tragic incident never happens again because it’s not about compensation or safety regulations. It’s about right and responsibilities.             

The demands are stated as follows:

1. DNA report of unidentified corpses should be provided immediately.

2. Tampaco owner and the major clients of Tampaco including MNCs should pay compensation to the victims. The compensation have to be paid according to ILO Convention 121 by adding BDT 5,00,000 with the compensation on accounts of ‘pain and suffering’.  

3. Safe workplaces must be ensured.

4. An investigation committee should be formed to mark the cause of the accident and judicial trial  for the punishment to the responsible.

5. Providing proper treatment of injured workers.

6.Ensuring the access to form unions in all workplaces.

Message sender: Golam Sorowor, Cell: +8801711951709

Stand up against the conspiracy of local and foreign seed companies to destruct BADC.

Provide increased wages to BADC workers.

Dhaka, 25 October 2016. Today Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) and National Women Farmers & Workers Association (NWFA) jointly organized human chain/rally in front of National Press Club, Dhaka urging Stand up against the conspiracy of local and foreign seed companies to ruin BADC. They also demand for providing increased wages to BADC workers.

 

The speakers in the human chain said, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), the seed producing and distributing agency, has been playing significant role in bringing technologies and quality seeds and distributing those at the farmers’ level. But, unfortunately BADC has been weakened in various ways with various master plans according to the instructions from the World Bank and IMF as a strategy of cutting subsidy for agriculture. Governments have even been also providing policy to support private seed company. The seed policy of 1993 is an example of such intention. It is said in the policy that, BADC will stop producing seeds that are being produced by private companies and BADC will withdraw its upazila (sub district) based selling centers and these will be replaced by private companies.   

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Workers from BADC, BRRI, BARI, Jute Research Farm, Sugarcane Farm, Dairy Farm, Sericulture Farm, Cotton Farm participated in the demonstration. Following the rally, in an assembly, presided by Mahmudul Hasan Manik, Vice President of BAFLF, speech was delivered by Abdul Mazid, General Secretary of BAFLF. Among others workers leader Kamrul Ahsan and Mir Delower Hossoin of National Workers Federation, Abul Kashem of Bangladesh Sramajibi Kendra, Nurjahan Begum of NWFA, Golam Sorowor, Md. Mamun, Abdul Hamid, Lahuj Uddin spoke in the gathering.

 

In his speech Abdul Mazid says that BADC is internationally recognized for producing quality seeds and BADC workers have great contribution to do so.Due to the aggression of foreign seeds of MNCs ,our quality seed is losing its market and BADC have been destroying. He adds, as a part of local private seed companies and MNCs conspiracy to reduce BADC seed production, in 2002 total 1604 regular workers of BADC were forced to leave BADC with a Golden Hand Shake. BADC authority is doing this curtail in the name of reducing operational cost. Now there is no regular workers in BADC, though this is a formal organization. Seed production needs intensive and regular care, without regular labour, it is not possible. He demands for recruitment of more appropriate number of workers and to regularize all irregular wage workers.

 

Abul Kasem of BSK says, after a successful negotiation between BAFLF and Agricultural Ministry, Agriculture ministry agreed to increased daily wages of farm workers and accordingly published an order determining 500 BDT for regular workers and 450 for irregular workers dated 12 June this year. All workers of state own farms are getting their re-scheduled increased wages in accordance with the order. Unfortunately, over the past two months, the BADC authority illegally stopped to pay the increased wages of BADC workers. As a result, BADC farm workers are living miserable with family. Over last 14 years BADC authority is persistently violating workers’ right.

Shanjib Das, workers leader of BADC says, the farm workers are working hard to produce quality seed. If they do not produce seed, farmers will not get quality seed for cultivation and research activities will be hampered. Yet, these workers are victims of extreme deprivation. He says, BADC is a public institution, but there is no permanent arrangement of determining workers’ wages, allowances and other facilities. They have no economic security. In spite of working over 25 to 30 years on regular basis, BADC workers are being deprived of getting all facilities. He demands payment of their overdue and increased wages.

The bellow said demands were stated from the demonstration:

1.    Immediately to provide re-assigned increased wages of BADC workers.

2. Regularize all present irregular workers flowing ‘Agricultural Farm Workers’ Appointment and Control Policy’.

3. Stop conspiracy to destroy foundation seeds, the main resource of agriculture production, in the interest of home and foreign seed companies.

4.    Stop corruption in the name of ‘masterrole’ and provide workers’ wages through bank.

 

Contract: Golam Sorowor, +8801711 951709

http://www.jamunanews24.com/news-detail/bn/32983/-

http://www.newstoday.com.bd/?option=details&news_id=2455611&date=2016-10-26

http://thedailynewnation.com/news/111788/bangladesh-agriculture-farm-employees-federation-formed-a-human-chain-in-front-of-the-jatiya-press-club-on-tuesday-in-protest-against-conspiracy-of-home-and-foreign-seed-companies-to-ruin-bangladesh-agriculture-development-corporation-badc.html

http://fastbdnews24.com/national/17979/

http://www.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/article/1007199/%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF

http://www.newsbangladesh.com/details/36544

http://m.dailynayadiganta.com/detail/news/164435

আজ ১৬ অক্টোবর ২০১৬, বাংলাদেশ কৃষি ফার্ম শ্রমিক ফেডারেশন ও জাতীয় কিষাণী শ্রমিক সমিতির উদ্যোগে বিশ্ব খাদ্য দিবস উপলক্ষে, বিক্ষোভ মিছিল ও আলোচনা সভার আয়োজন করা হয়।

আলোচনা সভায় বক্তারা বলেন, আমরা মনে করি অনেক অনেক পদ্ধতির মাঝে জিএমও হচ্ছে একটি পদ্ধতি। এই প্রযুক্তির জন্য নির্ভর করতে হবে বিদেশী কোম্পানীগুলোর উপর। ফলে বাংলাদেশের কৃষকের হাত থেকে বীজ গুলো ধীরে ধীরে চলে যাবে বিদেশী কোম্পানী গুলোর কাছ্। জিএম শষ্যের বীজের জন্য নির্ভর করতে হবে বিদেশী কোম্পানী গুলোর উপর। আমাদের কৃষি শিল্পকে জিম্মি করে ব্যবসা করবে বিদেশী কোম্পানী গুলো। আমাদের অর্থনৈতিক দুর্বলতার কারণে উন্নত দেশ গুলো তাদের জিএম ফসলের প্রভাব দেখার জন্য আমাদের দেশকে বেছে নিয়েছে। সাহায্যের নামে জিএম ঢুকিয়ে দিচ্ছে আমাদের নিরীহ মানুষের খাদ্য তালিকায়। আমরা গিনিপিগের ভুমিকায় রয়েছি না জেনেই। আমরা প্রতিদিন প্রতিনিয়ত যে পপকর্ণ বা সয়াবীন তেল খেয়ে থাকি, এ গুলোও কিন্তু—– জিএম ফসল এবং এরই মধ্যে আরও যোগ হয়েছে বিটি বেগুন ও যোগ হওয়ার পথে গোল্ডেন রাইচ। ধারণা করা হয়, জিএম সয়াবীন তেলের ব্যবহার অধিক্যের কারনে আমাদের দেশে উদ্বেগজণক ভাবে ক্যান্সার রুগীর সংখ্যা বেড়েই চলেছে।

যেহেতু এখনো জিএমও এর ক্ষেত্রে কোন রকম লেবেলিং করা হয় না। অর্থাৎ জিএমও প্যাকেটে, বা বর্তমানে বাজারে বিক্রয়কৃত বেগুন আলাদা ভাবে জিএমও হিসেবে বিক্রয় করা হচ্ছে না। সেহেতু জিএম এর স্বাস্থ্য ও পরিবেশের উপর দীর্য মেয়াদী কি প্রভাব ফেলবে তা মাপার এখনো কোন স্কেল আমাদের হাতে নেই। আমাদের দেহে ডিডিটির মারাত্মক ক্ষতি করে, তা জানতে আমাদের ৩০ বছর লেগেছিল। তেমনি হয়তো জিএম এর ক্ষতিকারক দিক গুলো জানতে আমাদের বেশ অনেক বছর লাগবে কারণ আমরা এর ভয়ংকর দিক সাথে সাথে জানতে পারি না। প্রকৃত পক্ষে জেনেটিক ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং এর মাধ্যামে জিএম ফসল তৈরী অর্থ্যাৎ ফসলে মেনিপুলেশান করা, তাদেরকে স্বাভাবিক পরিবেশে অবমুক্ত করা এবং ঐ সকল উৎপাদিত জিএম ফসল আমাদের খাদ্য হিসেবে ব্যবহার করা অবৈজ্ঞানিক, ঝুকিপূর্ণ এবং তা হবে দায়িত্বহীনতার পরিচায়ক।

তাই এখনই আমাদের প্রতিবাদী হতে হবে এবং জিএমও এর ক্ষতিকারক দিক গুলো সম্পর্কে এবং কৃষক ও জনসাধারনকে সচেতন করে তুলতে হবে।

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmq2tGHDv40&feature=youtu.be

BAFLF and NWFA celebrated International Youth Day 2016

Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) and National Women Farmer and Workers Association (NWFA) celebrated International Youth Day 2016, in response to IUF South Asia call for observing the day, for the first time these two organizations observed this day urging to young workers’ right to a living wage, stable incomes, secure job, safe work and their dignity. On the occasion BAFLF and NWFA arranged rally, gathering and discussion meeting to acknowledge and encourage the action of young farm workers and farmers towards better future and also their active engagement in union activities.

In BRRI headquarter, a rally was held where about 300 farm workers took part. In the gathering Abdul Mazid, General Secretary of BAFLF advised the youth workers to come forward in resisting the violation of workers’ rights. He also declared that BAFLF will form its separate articulation soon and from today we will start this process.

NWFA BARI headquarters unit organized another discussion meeting in BARI conference hall where Abdul Mazid,General Secretary of BAFLF was chief guest and Nasrin Sultana of NWFA was in chair. Young promising leader Ranju Ahmed conducted the meeting. Among others Golam Sorowor, Rahim Uddin, Mamun Hossain of BAFLF, Nurjahan Begum on NWFA were present the discussions.

অতি আনন্দের সাথে জানাচ্ছি যে, বাংলাদেশ কৃষি ফার্ম শ্রমিক ফেডারেশনের আবেদনের প্রেক্ষিতে ও দীর্ঘ আন্দোলন সংগ্রামের ফলে কৃষি ফার্মে কর্মরত (ধান গবেষনা, কৃষি গবেষনা, বিএডিসি ফার্ম, পাট গবেষনা, ঈক্ষু গবেষনা ও রেশম বীজাগারে কর্মরত কৃষি শ্রমিক) কৃষি শ্রমিকদের বেতন বৃদ্ধির প্রজ্ঞাপন জারি হলো আজ।

1।(ঢাকা ও চট্টগ্রাম সিটি কর্পোরেশন)
নিয়মিত:500 টাকা (মাসে 500X30=15000 টাকা)
অনিয়মিত: 475(মাসে 475 X 30= 14250 টাকা)
২।(বিভাগীয় শহর এবং অন্যান্য সিটি কর্পোরেশন)
নিয়মিত:500 টাকা (মাসে 500X30=15000 টাকা)
অনিয়মিত: 450(মাসে 450X30=13500 টাকা)
3। জেলা ও উপজেলা এলাকা
নিয়মিত: 450 টাকা (মাসে 450X30=13500 টাকা)
অনিয়মিত: 400(মাসে 400 X 30= 12000 টাকা)

বাংলাদেশ কৃষি ফার্ম শ্রমিক ফেডারেশনের সাধারণ সম্পাদক আব্দুল মজিদ, মাননীয় প্রধান মন্ত্রী, মাননীয় কৃষি মন্ত্রী, মাননীয় বেসামরিক বিমান পরিবহন ও পর্যটন মন্ত্রী জনাব রাশেদ খান মেনন ও কৃষি মন্ত্রণালয়ের সচীব মহোদয়ের নিকট কৃষি ফার্ম শ্রমিকদের পক্ষথেকে কৃতজ্ঞতা প্রকাশ করেন।

Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) arranged series of linkage meeting on 2-4 June 2016. This meeting was held in Bakta Union Parishad, Balian Union Parishad and Deokhola Union Parishad, Fulbaria, Mymensingh. The chairman and members of the Union Parishad, local farmer including woman farmers & agri workers attended these sharing meetings on using echo friendly agro technologies to save our agriculture and the environment.

PRESS RELEASE

Mymensingh  press club, 30 May, 2016

BAFLF term the WTO treaty on agri-subsidies withdrawal suicidal for Bangladesh, 

Demanded special measures in the 2016-17 budget to ensure sustainable food security

Govt. must be prepared for the post subsidy era

Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation has termed the recent WTO treaty on subsidy withdrawal from agriculture as suicidal for the food security of Bangladesh. They were speaking from press conference held today in Mymensingh  press club.  They said, the 10th Ministerial Conference of World Trade Organization (WTO has decided to bring an end to agriculture subsidies. Developing countries will remove subsidies within 2023, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and net food-importing countries will do that within 2030. It means countries like Bangladesh has to stop all its supports towards agriculture. It will lead Bangladesh may be to remove almost a full ministry called Ministry of Agriculture that is providing various extension supports to the agriculture sector.

Md. Anower Hossain, president of BINA Workers Association and CC member BAFLF presided over the press conference. On behalf of the BAFLF Sultan Ahmed placed some specific recommendations from the press conference, these are: (i) implementation of strong laws controlling commercialization of agricultural lands to save small farmers land and to refrain marginalized farmers from selling their lands, (ii) introduction of cooperative farming to save the small scale farmers, govt. incentives must be there to save the small scale farmers (iii) Establishment of dam in coastal areas must get priorities to save the coastal farmers from river erosion, flash flood and seal level rising (iv) implementation of strong and effective market mechanism so that farmers access and control over the marker established, (v) enhanced capacities of public sector in seeds productions and distribution, more allocation for BADC must be ensured, (vi)  We demand extension of sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural technologies.

Sultan Ahmed said, in one hand it is said that country has become food surplus country and we are exporting food and food import is also going, what is the reality then?  Agriculture of Bangladesh can’t be treated same as the developed countries. Developed countries have been able to enhance capacities of their farmers with huge subsidies and technical support. They have become industrial now. So, withdrawal of subsidy in developed countries and in Bangladesh can’t have same impact.   

Abdul Mazid +8801711660474

Golam Sorowor +8801711951709