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Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed
Honourable Chief Adviser
Government of Bangladesh

Dear Dr Ahmed,

I am writing to express my thanks to your government for releasing Mehedi Hasan, who was detained last week in relation to his important work as a factory inspector for the U.S. organisation Worker Rights Consortium. At the same time, I wish to raise my concerns about other labour rights defenders who may still be at risk of repression or detention under similar charges.

The ability of workers to organise freely to be able to negotiate to improve working conditions is vital if the garment industry in Bangladesh is to become sustainable over the long term. The current emergency laws, intense security surveillance and repression of labour rights makes this almost impossible. These actions fail to address the very real labour problems in Bangladesh's garment industry which are causing the current and past disturbances: low wages, poor health and safety, long hours and discrimination. Enabling workers the freedom to associate and to express their legitimate grievances and demands would create more stability for everyone involved.

I am aware of the importance of the garment industry to Bangladesh, its economy and its people. I am concerned that the ongoing criminalisation of workers and their representatives under the emergency legislation will make matters worse and that the two million mainly female garment workers will bear the brunt of it.

I believe it is vital that workers are able to organise freely in order to create a healthy and sustainable industry for the future and I am calling on your government to ensure labour rights defenders are able to carry out their important work free from harassment and intimidation. In particular we call on your government to:

1. stop all repression of workers, trade unions, researchers, workers rights activists and policy advocates;
2. drop the false charges levied at labour rights defenders for carrying out their legitimate duties;
3. enter into genuine and constructive dialogue with union representatives and labour rights defenders to develop sound industrial relations.
4. repeal emergency laws banning freedom of association and trade union activity and;
5. implement the tripartite agreement signed June 12, 2006 by the government, owners and workers' organisations detailing some of the fundamental rights of workers, including freedom of association.

I look forward to hearing about the positive steps forward taken by your government,

Sincerely,