• ASK Demand immediate and effective measures from the Government and BGMEA for payment of arrears and Eid festival allowance of workers;

• Urge the Government to take suitable steps after assessing this problem/crisis and provide a remedy.

• Protesting for due salary allowances is the constitutional rights of workers;

•  No active measures taken by Government or the Bangladesh Garment Owners Association (BGMEA);

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) is expressing deep concern over the ongoing hunger strike by garment workers of Tuba Group demanding the arrears of their wage and festival allowance.

It came to our knowledge through various media that around 1200 garment workers of Tuba Group are on hunger strike since 28 July 2014, demanding for the payment of three months (May-July 2014) wages, overtime payments, and Eid allowances and 92 workers have fallen ill since then with 9 of them being hospitalized.  It has also been known that, although Tuba Group has earned around 39 crore Taka from their exports in the last six months from January to June 2014, but around 1600 of their workers have not been received their wage, allowances and no active measure has taken by BGMEA (association of apparel industry owners) and the Government.

We reiterate that it is the democratic right of workers to organize peaceful protest demanding their basic amenities including wage and allowances.  The owners of apparel industries are making profits in crores of taka, but they have no concern about ensuring the basic rights of workers. Even in the past, we have witnessed the owners that have given not paying attention to the livelihood of workers and giving rise to significant insecurities among them, owing to which they end up clamorous demanding their dues.

We urge the BGMEA and Government to take necessary actions to pay immediately the workers of Tuba Group their arrears of wage and allowances along with compensations.  We also urge the Government to protect this important economic sector by taking prudent steps, making thorough analysis of this type of crisis.

Photo Credits : Taslima Akhter

MISSING : Ex Parliamentarian and BNP President of Laxsham Municipality on 27th November 2013

See Prothom Alo Newspaper Report [Bengali] Click Photo for Link

ASK had been sent correspondence from both  families requesting assistance regarding the disappearances.

A  letter signed by 18 Union Council Chairpersons, demanding the immediate investigation of the traceless victims were  sent to the Prime Minister and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Bangladesh.

Since the Missing report was filed in the General Diary of the local police station in Laxsham, the Rapid Action Battalion have denied the entire incident despite two witnesses.  The family members and  local community have held a press conference, human chain and even a strike (hartal) in their local area.

Missing Ex Parliamentarian and BNP President of Luxsham Municipality – 27 November 2013

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) strongly condemns and expresses its grave concern over the attack and vandalism by the Bangladesh Chatra League activists on the divisional rally of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD).

According to different media reports, the local Chatra League activists attacked and vandalized the joint divisional rally organised by the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) in Sylhet on 15 September 2013.It has also been reported that around 17 people including the president of Sylhet district CPB were injured during this incident and no effective measure was taken by the law enforcing agencies to prevent it immediately.

ASK is expressing concern on the attack by the student body associated with the ruling party on the rally of other political parties which is completely unwarranted. ASK condemns the recent reckless activities of Bangladesh Chatra League and lack of action by the administration to handle such incidents.

Ain o Salish Kendra strongly urges the ruling party and the Government to take immediate and strict measures to stop recurrence of such activities by the Bangladesh Chatra League.

 BCL men attack CPB-BSD rally in Sylhet   –  Daily Star Report 

”Chhatra League activists attacked a joint rally of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) in Sylhet city yesterday, injuring at least 35, including CPB chief Mujahidul Islam Selim and 10 policemen.” Source : Daily Star

The post Ruling Party Student Activists Attack Communist Party Rally first appeared on Ain o Salish Kendra(ASK).]]> https://www.askbd.org/ask/2013/09/16/ruling-party-student-activists-attack-communist-party-rally/feed/ 0 https://www.askbd.org/ask/2013/06/30/strongly-condemns-chairman-nhrc-proposal-limon-hossain/ https://www.askbd.org/ask/2013/06/30/strongly-condemns-chairman-nhrc-proposal-limon-hossain/#respond Sun, 30 Jun 2013 08:25:53 +0000 http://www.askbd.org/ask/?p=810 Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) strongly condemns the proposal given by the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission to Limon Hossain to withdraw the legal proceedings he undertook against...

The provisions also undermine the essence of the personal liberty of the citizens, freedom of speech and expression and the freedom of the medi1

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses its grave concern over the adoption of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2013 by the parliament on 11 June 2013. ASK considers that the amendment has widened the scope to restraint peoples’ constitutional rights and has the potential to undermine the principles of human rights and democracy.

On 11 June 2013, the Parliament of Bangladesh passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2013.  The bill was placed in the parliament on 3 June 2013, examined by the parliamentary standing committee in a hurried manner and being passed on 11 June 2013. After the enactment, many legal experts, human rights activists and political activists expressed their concerns on the risks of potential misuse of the law. ASK thinks, some of the provisions of this law are contrary to the human rights principles and democratic values. The provisions also undermine the essence of the personal liberty of the citizens, freedom of speech and expression and the freedom of the media. These provisions might be used as an official tool to subjugate the opposition or dissent and to curtail the fundamental rights of the people.

ASK condemns the enactment of such a flawed law and urge the government to amend the provisions contrary to the constitution, peoples’ fundamental rights and democratic values.

One student out of the 150 students beaten by the Asst Teacher of Gulta Govt Primary School

According to media reports, more than 150 students were beaten by an assistant teacher of Gulta Government Primary School in Tarash upazilla of Sirajgonj district on 10 June 2013. It has also been reported that thirty students were unable to attend their class due to their injury received from the teacher’s beating.

ASK expresses its serious concern over such inhuman activity of the teacher to his students.

We recall that the High Court has declared any kind of corporal punishment imposed on the students by  the teachers  in the academic institutions as illegal  through one of its landmark judgment (Writ Petition No: 5684/2010) and declared that the person will be guilty of professional misconduct if she/he acts otherwise in this regard. In spite of the High Court direction, this type of inhuman treatment is happening repeatedly. Meanwhile, it has been reported that an investigation committee has been formed and the alleged assistant teacher admitted his misconduct. ASK expresses its satisfaction on the formation of the investigation committee.

ASK,however,expects that the administration will take appropriate action against the person responsible upon investigation to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future. In addition, ASK urges the concerned authorities of the Government to provide proper directions to the teachers in this regard.

[Bengali]