The BNP has demanded new industries must be made to obtain all clearances before beginning operations to ensure workers’ rights.

“After the Rana Plaza incident, ensuring workers’ rights in the country has become paramount,” BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia said on Friday.

“US members of Congress have called for ensuring the rights and safety of workers in Bangladesh. BNP supports this call,” he said.

On Thursday, US Congresswoman Grace Meng, who represents New York’s sixth district, said at an event in Jamaica that the United States was aware of the conditions of workers in Bangladesh and wanted proper rights and safety for them.

A candle-light vigil was held for the victims of Rana Plaza at that event.

Rafiqul said thousands of workers had been maimed and disabled in the Rana Plaza collapse.

“We saw on a TV report that a pregnant woman rescued from Rana Plaza gave birth to a child with birth defects, and she is not getting treatment anywhere. This is shameful for the nation.

Rafiqul alleged that the Rana Plaza victims and their families had not been adequately compensated.

“We have learned from news reports that the government has formed a Tk 1.28 billion fund for the Rana Plaza victims. The prime minister has distributed Tk 220 million to them,” he said.

“So where did the rest of the money go?”

“We are not raising allegations of misappropriation,” he added, and said that the compensations had not been properly paid out.
He said India was not an enemy of Bangladesh.

“But the Indian government wants this unelected government in power by any means. Indian people do not support this policy,” he said.

“Indian people want Bangladesh to have a democracy, an elected government.”

Source: Bd news24