Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Friday underscored the proper enforcement of the existing laws to ensure the punishment of culprits like Sohel Rana, the owner of the collapsed Rana Plaza.
“There’s no need for formulating any new law to try people like Rana of Savar. The ordinary laws are enough to do so. But, these laws are hardly practiced. So, we all have to get united for the proper enforcement these laws,” he said.
The noted jurist was speaking at a seminar, titled ‘Savar Tragedy: Law, Highest Punishment and Compensation’, organised by Garment Sramik Sangram Parishad at the National Press Club.
Reminding the legislators and the law enforces of their responsibilities in implementing the court orders, Dr Kamal said “Court can issue an order, but parliament and police are to implement it.”
“BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association) must remember the accidents in the garment sector. It won’t be good for anybody, if they maintain an ominous entente with the government.”
Urging the labour organisations to carry on a united movement to establish their rights, the Gono Forum chief said, “Let’s join a united movement coming out of the grip of a handful of politicians.”
“We’ve to make everybody, including BGMEA, to comply with the laws. For this, the workers must get united to exert pressure on the owners,” Dr Kamal said.
Voicing his firm resolve to promote the rights of workers, he said, “I’ve been waging a movement to establish the rights of workers for over 54 years. I’ll be on this movement till the last day of my life.”
The nine-storey Rana Plaza in Savar which housed five garment factories crashed down on April 24, killing over a thousand people.
Observing that the Savar tragedy hurt the country’s 16 core people, Dr Kamal urged all to stand united to stop the recurrence of such tragic incident.
Taking part in the programme, Prof Anu Mohammad demanded the government form an independent probe commission and revise the national minimum wage for the workers.
Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University suggested demolishing all the risky buildings soon to avoid Savar-like catastrophe.
Nagarik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, among others, spoke at the seminar.
Source: UNB Connect
