NEWS: Garment workers' death condoled

Staff Reporter

Different organisations yesterday expressed shock at the death of 21 garment workers in a fire at a sweater factory in Bhogra of Gazipur on Thursday.

Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) expressed a deep grief for the incident and took decision to give Tk 2 lakh for each family of the deceased. The organisation will also give free medical treatment to injured workers.The BGMEA has taken decision to provide employment in garments factories for the family members of the 21 dead workers. It has declared 3-day mourning programmes.

Leaders of National Garments Workers Federation yesterday at a protest rally at Muktangan demanded compensation of Tk 5 lakh for each of the deceased workers family. Terming the incident as 'killing of workers', they demand arrest the owner of the factory.

Amirul Haque Amin presided over the programme which was addressed, among others, by Safia Parvin, Faruk Khan and Sultana Akter.

Shirin Akter, president of Bangladesh Jatiya Srimak Jote and its general secretary Md Nur Khan, Umme Hasan Jhalmal, president and Mahbuba Akter Lipi, general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Nari Sramik Jote, Rokeya Sultana Anju, presidentand SM Masud Rana, general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Garments Sramik Jote in a joint statement yesterday expressed a deep shock at the death of garments workers at Gazipur.

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT by Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) (March 2010)

HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT: Bangladesh: Monthly Human Rights Report (March 2010)

Bangladesh: Monthly Human Rights Report (March 2010) Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) Monthly Human Rights Report Bangladesh, March 2010   Bangladesh made history this month when becoming the first South Asian country to ratify the ICC Rome Statute (International Criminal Court) on the 23rd of March. GHRD welcomes this important step towards promoting international justice. However, during the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Election held on the 24th and 25th of March none of the four minority candidates, one of them being GHRD’s local observer Mr. Rabindra Ghosh, was selected. There were three panels from different political affiliations including Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Several incidents of religious attacks that occurred during the month bore witness to the rising tension between the different religious groups in Bangladesh.

Permission Paper, Given by DC of patuakhali to meet with the victim in safe custody of Patuakhali Jail.

FACT FINDING REPORT:A HINDU MINORITY COMMUNITY ADOLESCENT GIRL ABDUCTED AND GANG RAPED BY A GROUP OF MUSLIM JUBO DAL CADRE

Type of Violation                : Women and Children Repression

Type of Act                          : Abduction and gang rape

Investigation conducted by: Adv. Shahanur Islam Saikot, Executive Director, BIHR, Md. Rafiquel Islam Hawlader, Fact-Finding Officer, BIHR and Md. Firoz Hossain, Social Worker, BIHR

Date of investigation         : March 26 to 30,  2010

Identity of the victim:

Name                                                 :Anju Rani Das (16), C/o: Amullo Chandra Das

Age at time of event:            :16 years

Under 18                               :Yes

Citizenship                            :Bangladeshi

Religion                                 :Hinindu        Cast:               Kayesto (Das)

Home address                     :Vill: Kuakata, P/s: Kolapara, Dist: Patuakhali; at present: Village: Dharandi, P/s and District: Patuakhali

Consent:                                : Consent of the victim has been taken to proceed with

 the case

URGENT ACTION: Take Prompt Action against the allege perpetrators