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Take action to support BCWS

On June 16th 2010. Aminul Islam, a staff member for the Bangladesh Center for Worke Solidarity, was detained by the National Security Intelligence Force of Bangladesh. He was brutally beaten before managing to escape. Just two weeks earlier the Bureau of NGO Affairs de-registered BCWS and ordered the seizure of their assets.

The Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity is an internationally recognised labour rights NGO, which has done vital work in supporting garment workers to raise their voices against the horrific exploitation that characterises the industry.

Take action today to support BCWS by calling on the Government of Bangladesh to stop the harassment of BCWS staff and to reinstate their staus as a registered NGO.

Your Excellency, Madam, Sir

Your Excellency,

I write to express grave concern regarding the recent crackdown against the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity (BCWS) and other labour rights leaders.

I am particularly alarmed to hear of the several criminal charges filed against Ms. Kalpona Akter, Mr. Babul Akhter, and Mr. Aminul Islam of the BCWS.

I am shocked to hear that family members have been harassed and threatened with violence by police officers. Previous reports of the unjust detention and beating of Mr. Islam, who was held in NSI (National Security Intelligence) custody on June 16, 2010, and the de-registration of BCWS at the NGO Affairs Bureau on June 3rd 2010, make it clear to me that the safety and rights of these labour advocates are not guaranteed.

It is my understanding that BCWS leaders have been accused by your government of inciting worker unrest.  However, BCWS is an internationally known and well respected advocate for workers’ rights with a strong record in credible research and professionalism.

Also it is reported that cases have been filed against other worker leaders including Montu Ghosh, Mahbub Islam, Bazlur Rashid Feruz, Moshrefa Mishu, Sultan Bahar, Nasim Nasrin, Ruhul Amin and Abul Hossain. In general it is unacceptable to target trade unions and labour rights organisations for defending the legitimate demands of garment workers in your country.

Therefore I call upon your government to:
1.Stop the repression of workers and worker leaders who protest against the low wages in the garment industry.

2.Ensure the withdrawal of criminal charges of fomenting labour unrest filed against labour rights advocates and worker organisers, including Ms Kalpona Akter, Mr. Babul Akhter and Mr. Aminul Islam of the BCWS.

3.Release the arrested labour leaders and garment workers, and withdraw charges against anonymous workers.

4.Immediately withdraw the cancellation letter of June 3, 2010, and restore BCWS’s NGO registration with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NAB), and put a halt to any action aiming at the termination of their organisation.

5.Provide BCWS staff members and their families with assurances of their safety.

I hope that you will resolve this situation immediately and recommit yourself to allowing labour rights organizations to operate freely without fear of reprisal.

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