Strike in Garments sector, by NGWF-Bangladesh

04.09.2000
Strike in Garments Sector of Bangladesh

Greetings from Bangladesh.
We The National Garments Workers Federation(NGWF)and Bangladesh Garments Workers Unity Council(umbrella organization of 10 garments workers federation including NGWF)today 4 Th September have called 24 hours STRIKE in whole garments sector in Bangladesh.In a press conference at 3 pm we have declared this Strike.On the basis of 3 demands We have called this Strike.These 3 demands are :

It is mentionable in Bangladesh 1.5milion(1500000)workers are working in 2600 garments.

TORCH PROCESSION
In fabour of STRIKE on 11 th September, We the National Garments Workers Federation will held a Torch Procession tomorrow 5 th september at 6.30 pm in the capital city Dhaka.
Pls send your solidarity message .
Amirul Haque Amin
General Secretary
National Garments Workers Federation
Phone 88 019 340268
fax 88 02 9562562
E-mail :unitybdmail.net

Greetings from NGWF and Bangladesh.
National Garments Workers Federation(NGWF)today 5 th September organized a TORCH PROCESSION for the success of Garments Strike on 11 th September.
The Procession was started at 6.30 pm infront of the Muktangoan central place of the Dhaka city.It was finished at Purana paltan after parred the main streets of the city .
Before the Procession Presided by Alam Kabir the gathering was addressed among others Amirul Haque Amin,Miss Shahida Sarker,Mrs Parul Begum,Mrs Lovely Biswas,Miss Nurun Nahar,Miss Safia pervin,Alamgir Sikder and Ohiduzzaman.
The Federation announched more programs for the success of the Strike.These are:

It is mentionable that the Strike is for 3 demands.
These 3 demands are :

It is also mentionable,In Bangladesh 1.5 milion (1500000) workers are working in 2600 garments.
p.s : the picure of the procession is in the attached file.
For solidarity message :
Amirul Haque Amin
General Secretary
National Garments Workers Federation
Phone 88 019 340268
fax 88 02 9562562
E-mail :unitybdmail.net

Greetings.Strike have Suspended.BGMEA have signed 6 points agreement with Bangladesh Garments Workers Unity Council.
These 6 points are :

This agreement was signed at 8.30 pm on 10 th september.As a result of this agreement Strike have suspended.

Amirul Haque Amin
General Secretary
National Garments Workers Federation
12 th september.

14.9.2000 SIT IN STRIKE OF DOMESTIC WORKERS
Greetings from Bangladesh.Yesterday 13 september,2000 Domestic Workers Association,Bangladesh had organized a SIT IN STRIKE for half an hour . This program was started at 4 pm and was finished at 4.30 pm.It was held at MuktanGon in the central place of the Dhaka city.
During the sit in presided by Amirul Haque Amin the gatherting addressed among other Mrs Hasna Banu, Miss Shahida Sarker,Mrs Aklima, Mrs Marufa , Mrs Fatema and Mrs Sobi Akter.
The Speakers said that- Last month August 5 domestic workers killed, 15 Raped , 17 torchered, 7 smugled.But there is no proper action against these. They demanded to stop these inhuman torchured , rape , killing and smugle. They also mentioned that-Domestic workers do not have the recognition as workers. they do not have the legal rights and fixed wages and others facilities. The speakers demanded recognition of domestic workers as labour and they demanded fixed wages and legal rights for the domestic workers .
In the attached file the picture of the Sit in Strike.
In Solidarity
Amirul Haque Amin
Central Co-ordinator
Domestic Workers Association, Bangladesh

20.9.2000
Human Chain Of Domestic Workers In Dhaka City
Domestic Workers Association, Bangladesh today 20 th September have organised a haman chain of domestic workers in Dhaka city.This program was started at 4 p.m and was finished at 5 p.m. Several houndreads of Domestic workers took part in this program from diffirent part of the city.They carried Festuns and Placards.It was organised near by the Bangladesh Secretariet.
This Human Chain mainly as a protest of Torture,Kidnape,Smuggle,rape and killing of domestic workers. And for the demand of recognization of domestics as workers and their legal rights with legal minimum wages.
Presided by Amirul Haque Amin in the human chain addressed among others Mrs Hasna Banu, Miss Shahida Sarker, Mrs Marufa, Ranu Begum, Miss Aklima,Mrs Nurjahan and Ohiduzzaman.
The speakers said that- in the last 1 and 1/2 month (August and 15 days of september) 19 domestic killed,21 smuggled, 25 serious tortured,17 raped.Even 5 years old NISHI daughter of a domestic workers(maid servant) burnt in the flame of cigarate and died by the house master .But there is no proper actions againsst these.They also mentioned that- Domestic worrkers are not recognize till now as worrkers. They do not have the legal rights and legal minimum wages.
The speakers demanded recognization , legal rights and legal minimum wages for the domestic workers. They also called the whole society to make ragistance against the rape, killing , kidnaping,torture and smuggle of domestic workers.
P.s. In the attached file the picture of the Human chain.

Amirul Haque Amin
Co-ordinator, Domestic Workers Association, Bangladesh

07.10.2000 Garments Workers-Humaan Chain For Weekly Holiday
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Greetings. Yesterday 6 th October,2000 Garments Workers organised "Garments Workers-Human Chain " for the implementation of Weekly Holiday in the whole Garments Sector of Bangladesh.
The program was organised in front of the Bangladesh Secratariet at 5 p.m.Garments workers of diffirent Factories took part in the program .During the program presided by Alam Kabir the gathering Addressed among others Amirul Haque Amin, Miss Shahida Sarker, Ohiduzzaman, Mrs Parul Begum , Mojibur Rahman pintu, Mrs Shafia pervin , Mrs Lovely Biswas and Advisor Advocate abed Raja.
The Speakers mentioned- "The weekly holiday is the legal rights of the garments workers according to the factory act section - 51,World Human Rights declaration section no -24, I L O convention section no - 14 and Bangladesh constitution section no - 15(c)."
They Added that- " According to the Aggrement with BGMEA 29thNovember,97 and 10th september,2000 Garments owners should implement the weekly holiday".

The speakers Claimed that- "According to the new aggrement - from the first friday of October,2000 weekly holiday should observe.But it is reality today is the first friday of October but a big number of factories is open and workers are working for the presure of management".
Leaders of the federation call the government to take action against those - who are runing the factory on friday and violating the law , ILO covention, Human rights declaration, Country contitution and aggrement.
Next Program ;
From the Human Chain the leader of the NGWF declared next programs as :
*** 9 th October ; Memorandum to the labour department for the proper action against the law violating garments owners.
*** 10 to 12 October : Meetings in the garments industrial Zones.
*** 13 th October : Country-wide Weekly holiday Damand Day

In solidarity
Amirul Haque Amin
General Secretary
National Garments Workers Federation

13.10.2000

Greetings from National Garments Workers Federation, Bangladesh.Today 13 th October,2000 GARMENTS WORKERS TORCH PROCESSION was organised by the NGWF.According to the previous declaration of 6th Octobeer,2000 today was The WEEKLY HOLIDAY DEMAND DAY and as a part of the demands day,s central program , the procession was organised at 5.30 p.m . The procession was started from Muktangan central place of the Dhaka city and was finished at Purana Paltan after parred the main streets of the city.Garments workers of diffirent Factories took part in the procession.
Before the procession, there was a short addressing.Presided by Alam Kabir it was Addressed among others Amirul Haque Amin, Advocate Abed Raja,Miss Shahida Sarker, Ohiduzzaman, Mrs Parul Begum , Mojibur Rahman pintu, Ms Shafia pervin , Mrs Lovely Biswas, Mrs Arifa Akter and Miss Nurun Nahar.
The Speakers Demanded the arrest and trail of the garments ownosers because of the violation of Country,s Constitution, Human Rights declaration, I L O conventions and labour law.They mentioned Weekly holiday is the right of the garments workers according to the Labour law, Human Rights declaration, I L O conventions and constitution of Bangladesh.And most of thee garments owners violating these and forched the garments workers to work on Friday(weeky holidaay).
The speakers urged the government, BGMEA aand the Buying houses(Agent of the multinationals) to implement the weekly holiday in the garments sector.
Next Program  :
From the Procession NGWF declared next programs as :
*** 14 th to 17 th October : Memorandum to the Garments factories.
*** 18 th to 19 th October : Memorandum to the buying houses .
*** 20 th October  : Country-wide PROTEST DAY.
Call to the international Friends
* Support the campaign and action of Bangladeshi garments workers.
* Send solidarity message.
* Send letter to the Multinationals(who buy clothes from Bangladesh)to implement the weekly holiday in their subcontacting factories.
* Send protest letter to the concern Bangladesh Embassy.
** In the attached file there is the picture.
In Solidarity
Amirul Haque Amin
General Secretary
National Garments Workers Federation

20.10.2000 Garments Workers Silent Walkathan For Weekly Holiday
------- NGWF, Dhaka,Bangladesh

Today 20 th October,2000 Garments Workers of Bangladesh country wide observed PROTEST DAY against the dipriving of weekly holiday.On 13 th october,2000 National Garments Workers Federation had declared this day.According to the previous declaration garments workers today observed the day of protest.
As a central program of Protest Day at 4.30 p.m the federation brought out a Silent Walkathan with Black Flag & Mask.It was started from Muktangaon and was finished at purana paltan after parred the main streets of the city.
Before the Procession Presided by Alam Kabir the gathering was addressed among others Amirul Haque Amin, Advocate Abed Raja, Miss Shahida Sarker, Alamgir sikder, Mrs Parul Begum, Mojibor Rahman pintu,Mrs Lovly biswas, Mrs Arifa, Ohidujjaman and Miss NurunNahar.
The spekers said that- " weekly holiday is the legal rights of the garments workers according to the labour law, I.L.O conventions, human Rights Declarations, Bangladesh constitution and the Aggremeents.But many garments owners violating this law and dipriving the workers from their legal rights."
The speakers urged the government to take action against these garmens owners.
Similar tipe of programs also organised in the morning time of the day in the other garments industrial districts.
Next Program:
21 to 26 th October : Gate meetings
27 th October : Country wide Agitation Day.
For the success of the campaign and action for weekly holiday,Bangladeshi garments workers and NGWF need international suport and cco-operation.
**The picture is in the attached file.
In solidarity
Amirul Haque Amin
General Secretary
National Garments Workers Federation

30.10.2000
Greetings.According to the previous declaration, 27 th October was the "Country wide Garments Workers Agitation Day" for the weekly holiday.Here is the report of the Agitation Day from our Daily English Newspaper.The picture is in the attached file.
Amirul Haque Amin
General Secretary
National Garments Workers Federation

Members of the National Garments Workers Federation yesterday burnt the effigies of the garments owners whom they termed violators of the Constitution and Law of the land.
Leaders of the federation at a rally at Muktangan demanded arrest and trial of the garments owners who,according to them,were violating the law of the land by denying garments workers right to weekly holiday.later the federation members brought out a protest procession from Muktangaon which returned there after parading through Baitul Mukarram, Gpo,Gulistan,Noor hossain square, Press club and Topkhana road.
President of the federation Alam Kabir presided at a brief rally before the procession,Advisor advocate Abed Raja,General Secretary Amirul Haque Amin,central leaders of the federation Mrs Parul begum,Miss Shahida Sarker,Mrs lovely Biswas, Ohidujjaman, Mojibor Rahman Pintu,Mrs Arifa spoke,among others.
The speakers said as per the article 15 of the Constitution every worker has the right to rest and weekly holiday.They said the right to weekly holiday was also ensured in the Clause 14 of the I.L.O. Convention.They demanded immediate arrest of the owners of garments factories who were forecing the workers to work on weekly holiday.
The speakers urged the government,BGMEA and Buying houses to help implement weekly holiday in the garments factories.

THE INDEPENDENT , Dhaka , Saturday 28 th October 2000.

Yesterday 25 th November 45 garments workers killed in a garment factory fire.

I am sending the news from our English Daily Newspaper " THE BANGLADESH OBSERVER"

Narsingdi,Nov 25:Atleast 45 workers including 10 children were burnt to death in a devastating fire at Sagar Chowdury Garment Factory in the Kamanchar BSCIC Industrial Area on Dhaka-Sylhet highway today at 7.45 p.m.

The fire sparked from electrical short circuit.

UNB ( United News Agency of Bangladesh ) adds: The fire soon engulfed the entire building where over 900 workers were on duty.

" As all the collapsible gates of the building were locked. No one could come out immediately." says a spot report, adding that the death figure may increase alarmingly.

Local people along with the firefighters of narsingdi broke open the gates of the building and rescued the rest of the workers and 40 dead bodies.

Of the dead, 29 bodies were brought to narsingdi sadar hospital.

the raging fire, however, came under control at about 9.30 p.m. The rescue operation was controling when the report came at 10.10 p.m.

THE BANGLADESH OBSERVER

Dhaka Sunday November 26,2000

( 1st page )

P.s. 1. National Garments Workers Federation with 9 other garments workers organisations named in the Banner of "Bangladesh Garments Workers Unity Council" have already protested the killing.

2. National Garments Workers Federation will organise CONDOLENCE AND PROTEST DEMONSTRATION tomorrow 27 th November at 5 p.m.

*** Pls send your condolence message to the victimised families, co workers and NGWF.

In solidarity

Amirul Haque Amin

26^th november,2000