8th National Conference of Bangladesh Trade Union Cenre (BTUC) 9th & 10th July 2009, Dhaka
25 July 2009
The 8th National Conference of Bangladesh Trade Union Cenre (BTUC) was held on 9th & 10th July 2009 at the capital city, Dhaka with much success.
This conference was held at a time when lots of industrial were closed & thousands of worker became jobless and within the adverse effects of Global economic recession. Yet the conference created nation wide enthusiasm and hope among the working class of Bangladesh. The main call of our conference was “Save Workers”, “Save Industries” & “Save The Nation” with a destination of to build up a healthy & responsible Trade Union. This conference was very significant to resolve the working class crisis of Bangladesh workers in general are determine to fight against the policy of de-industrialization, de-unionization & non-liberal globalization. They want that the conference should take program to solve long term problems of unemployment, inadequate wage etc & as well as industrial development and labour law in the preview of ILO core convention 87 & 98.
The conference opened with hosting of National & organization flag amidst singing of national anthem. After flag hosting the inaugural session began Workers, employees, Trade Union Leaders of National Federations & foreign delegates attended the conference. Mr. Shahidullah Chowdhury, working president presided in the session. Minister for labour & manpower, Government of Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh, Engineer Khondakar Mosharaf Hossain, Chaired as the Chief Guest. Shahida Parveen Shikha, Office Secretary moved a condolence resolution for the workers, erniment personalities, Trade Union Leaders including founder General Secretary Mr. Sarefuddin Ahemd Manik & immediate past president Md. Nurul Islam who died at mysterious blast & fire Mr. Abul Kamal Azad Joint General Secretary of BTUC & Convenor of the preparatory committees delivered well come address. Poet Ruby Rahman, MP, Roy Romesh Chandra, General Secretary, Jatio Sramik League, Abdul Kader Howlader, President Jatio Sramik Jote, Bangladesh. Spoke wishing the success of the conference & glorifying the role of BTUC in the workers movement of Bangladesh. Among the foreign delegates Deputy General Secretary of WFTU & AITUC H. Mahedevan spoke on globalization, present economic recession & its effect throughout the world. In this context he urged to organize regional movement a world wide movement with collaboration of World Federation of Trade Union. Representative from Nepal Mr. Nirala Bhattu & Mahendra Jaysinghe from Ceylon also delivered valuable speech.
Press here to read the speech by Cde. H. Mahadevan WFTU Deputy General Secretary at BTUC Congress
The Minister Khandakar Moshrrof said that their party is committed to their election manifesto to resolve workers issue like amendment to the labour law of 2006 in the perview of ILO convention, improvement of workers living condition. He also agreed that the so called world Bank/IMF prescription may not solve the crisis rather the present sinario demands Public, Private & public-private joint program to resolve the situation.
The General Secrtary Dr. Wazed said that in the context of the present world economic crisis employment of Labour & industrial orient policy should be taken, government need to open the closed industries. Worker must be taken in confidence to have a healthy industrial relation. He also said that BTUC believes & stand with healthy, democratic independent and revolutionary Trade Union.
The president of the session Shahidullah Chowdhury said that the working-class in general are in a bad shape. There are thousand of workers unemployed, leaving wages are below the poverty level, large number of workers is in the informal sector and the
workers over there are deprived of right and privilege He wants a fundamental change & call for united movement.
In the evening a delegate session held with about eight hundred delegates of basic plant level union from all over the country. Dr. Wajedul Islam Khan, General Secretary readout his report to the delegates, He mainly explain the socio-economic condition of the workers, adverse political scenario prevail in the country due to activities of the anti-liberation forces, position of workers in organized & unorganized sectors, industrial labour policy, effect of global economic crisis & urgency of united movement to over come the prevailing situation.
Before going to the discussion on secretary’s reports renowned economist & Governor of Bangladesh Bank (Central Bank) Dr. Atiur Rahman spoke on the world wide recession due to failure of capitalist economy and its over all impact on the working class specially on Bangladesh economy. He is of the opinion to avoid donors and concentrate to grow national economy on the basic of agro-based sector and policy of Public & Private-Public Joint Venture. He also stressed to give impetus to the landless peasants & help them to improve their living condition thus develop the rural economy.
After this session and attractive cultural programme arranged with famous artist & singers of our country.
On 10th July, 2009 open discussion held on the general secretary report. Speakers were critical about the working condition of the workers & urged to face the situation with local /Partial & United movement. At the end of the discussion the general secretary’s’ report was unanimously adopted.