Dhaka: More intellectual activities should be initiated in labour movement to ensure human and workplace rights of workers, observed trade union leaders on Saturday.

Addressing the launch of a book titled Mazuri Manush Sangram [wage, human beings and movement] the labour leaders said labour movement today should be free of all external interventions. Workers should have total control over any labour movement, otherwise that could be derailed, they added.

Bangladesh Shrama Institute (Bashi) organised the discussion marking launch of its first publication.

Bashi trustee Advocate Abdus Salam presided over the discussion held at Sangskriti Bikash Kendra in Dhaka.

Abdus Salam said usually three forces interrupted the labour movement in Bangladesh. Government, employers and often organisations that claim to be political leadership of working class try to control labour movement. The workers, however, should get involved in their struggle and if needed should build their own political organisations, said Abdus Salam.

Bangladesh Trade Union Centre president Shahidullah Chowdhury, also the former president of Community Party of Bangladesh, said state and employers always tried to suppress trade union movement. If workers want to carry on their movement they certainly have to face such pressures, said the leader.

Socialist Workers’ Front general secretary Rajekuzzaman Ratan congratulated the Bangladesh Shrama Institute and emphasised unified labour movement to ensure rights of the workers.

National Democratic Workers Federation convener Shamim Imam said it was not enough to launch movement for wage or workplace safety, there should be struggle to establish workers’ control over the means of production.

Gana Sanghati Andolan central leader Firoz Ahmed held the weakness in labour movement responsible for the widespread corruption and measurable condition of working people.   

Garment Sramik Sanghati convener Taslima Akhter emphasised unity of working class organisations while Garment Workers’ Unity Forum leader Shahidul Islam said to identify the strength and weakness of labour movement it should be studied properly.

Bangladesh Shrama Institute (Bashi) trustee Murshed Ali presented a report on the organisations activities.