Workers' Safety Forum stages human chain demanding speedy trial over killing of garment worker Dipu Chandra
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, chief of the Labour Reform Commission said, “The recent killing was not only an attack on a worker but also a blow to Bangladesh’s secular values and citizen security.”
The Workers' Safety Forum today (22 December) staged a human chain protesting the killing of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das and demanding a speedy trial.
The demonstration was held at 11am in front of the National Press Club, with participation from leaders and activists of various labour organisations, human rights defenders and representatives of civil society.
Addressing the gathering, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, chief of the Labour Reform Commission and executive director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), said, "The recent killing was not only an attack on a worker but also a blow to Bangladesh's secular values and citizen security."
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He demanded exemplary punishment for the factory authorities responsible and for members of the law enforcement agencies who neglected their duties. Warning that violence is increasing due to a culture of impunity, he called for united resistance involving civil society to build a safe Bangladesh.
Presiding over the programme, Anwar Hossain, central president of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, said, "Brutal killings and injustices continue to recur in the country. I urge sustained and united movements in favour of justice to prevent such incidents in the future."
Workers' Safety Forum Member Secretary Sekender Ali Mina described the killing of Dipu Chandra Das as a grave violation of human rights, expressing deep concern that workers are not safe even in their workplaces.
He demanded justice for the murder, compensation for the victim's family and effective measures, with worker representatives involved, to ensure workplace safety.
Rajekuzzaman Ratan, assistant general secretary of the central committee, said the killing of a skilled worker on allegations of blasphemy amounted to medieval barbarity.
He held the factory authorities, administration and the state responsible, and called for collective resistance to protect workers' lives, dignity and freedom of expression.
