Act Now
The Bangladesh government has been quoted that they will not tolerate any “anarchy” in the garment sector. They have been cited in numerous newspapers accusing “provocateurs”, “saboteurs” and even “terrorists” to be manipulating workers to riot, thereby ignoring the genuine struggles of the workers.
On the 31st July a Bangladesh newspaper released a list of 10 people wanted by the government in connection with the unrest, including Kalpona Akter, Babul Akhter and another man working as a trade union adviser, Mr Montu Ghosh. Mr Ghosh was arrested on the evening of the 30th July. Other union leaders reportedly named in the charges are: Mahbub Islam, Bazlur Rashid Feruz, Moshrefa Mishu, Sultan Bahar, Nasim Nasrin, Ruhul Amin and Abul Hossain.
BCWS and its leaders are particular targets of this government crackdown on worker organizing, blamed for “fomenting unrest and agitation in the garment sector” in an official government brief. Several branches of police are now searching for BCWS staff and leaders, threatening their family members with beatings, harassing colleagues, and attempting various forms of deception in order to identify their place of hiding. BCWS leaders are worried about their own physical safety, as well as that of their families and colleagues, and are in serious danger of unlawful detention and possible inhumane and degrading treatment at the hand of the authorities.
Click “Act Now” to write to the authorities to demand withdrawal of the criminal cases and a guarantee of safety for the worker leaders under attack.
As there exists strong evidence that a specific factory, the Nassa Global Wear company, has played a significant role in the attacks against the organisation, we also ask you to send a message to the Nassa group owner condemning their actions.
For more information see:
Sweatfree Communities: http://www.sweatfree.org/bcwsalert-7-2010
