[asia-apec 1018] Farmer Leaders in Bangladesh Illegally Dismissed!

[ALARM (APEC Labour Rights Monitor)]

Farmer Leaders in Bangladesh Illegally Dismissed!

Mr. Abdul Latif and several leaders of the Bangladesh Agriculture Research
Institute (BARI) Farm Labour Association, were dismissed from their service
on 25 January 1999. Mr Abdul Latif is the Organizing Secretary of the
Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) and the General
Secretary of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Farm Labour
Association.

Mr. Mamunur Rashid, Director General of the Bangladesh Agricultural
Research Institute (BARI), initiated the illegal dismissal of the union
leaders which is in violation of the Agricultural Farm Labour Appointment
Control Policy 90 of the government. This act is viewed to weaken and
abolish the revolutionary labour association of the Bangladesh farmers.

Background:

First Quarter, 1998: The fact is that the BARI authority in Joydebpur
Agriculture Farm has illegally hired some seasonal labour last May 1998.
The association leaders, on behalf of the BARI Farm Labour Association
raised objection and vehemently protest against this illegal appointment.
The existing convention regarding the appointment of seasonal labour
indicates that should there be newly appointed labourers, this appointment
should be done from the enlisted seasonal labour working in the farm.
However, the convention is being violated and not being respected since
newly-appointed labour(ers) are their own relatives and own circles of
recruits.

14 May 1998: The union leaders approached the BARI authority to insist
compliance with the convention relating to the appointment of seasonal
labourers. Since the authority rejected their demand, the union and
labourers have resorted to meeting, protest rally, etc. On May 14, the
union leaders, members and labourers blockaded the office of the BARI
authority. This incident lead to police intervention wherein 13 leaders and
workers who were at the Workers Club Room were arrested. 

17 May 1998: Mr. Akkas Ali - President, Abdul Latif – General Secretary,
Jynal Abdine - Joint
Secretary, Allauddine - Publicity Secretary together with 9 members of the
Executive
Committees were suspended without any reason given. In protest against the
illegal dismissal and violation of labour law, the farm labourers went on
an spontaneous strike for 45 days. 

25 January 1999: After a year of violations – from rules, procedures,
conventions and the Farm Labour Appointment to Government Control Policy 90
- the BARI authority have never been accounted for their unlawful acts. And
as if not yet satisfied, BARI authority goes further by illegally
dismissing the assocation leaders.

Protest letter should be sent to -

1.	Mr. Mamunur Rashid
Director General
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)
Po- Joydebpur, Gazipur
Bangladesh
Fax No: +880-2 8410678

2.	Secretary
Ministry of Agriculture
People's  Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Phone: +880-2 869-277 / Fax: +880-2 863-080

3.	Agriculture Minister
Ministry of Agriculture
People's  Republic of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka1000, Bangladesh
Phone: +880-2 867-474 / Fax: +880-2 862-475

Solidarity letters and copies of protest letter should be sent to –

1.	APEC Labour Rights Monitor
C/o AMRC
444 Nathan Road, 8-B, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Fax: +852 2385-5319 / E-mail: alarm at hk.super.net

2.	Nurul Anowar
General Secretary   
Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF)
2/11, Block-F, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, BANGLADESH
Fax- 880-2-819112 / E-mail- baflf at bdcom.com


Sample of Protest Letter: 

Mr. Mamunur Rashid
Director General
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)
Fax No: +880-2 8410678

Mr Rashid:

We would like to express our grave concern over the repressive acts made
against the leaders, members and workers/labourers of the Bangladesh
Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Farm Labour Association. 

In particular, we strongly protest the suspension, arrest and dismissal of
Mr. Akkas Ali - President, Abdul Latif – General Secretary, Jynal Abdine –
Joint Secretary, Allauddine - Publicity Secretary and the 9 members of the
Executive Committees. 

We demand for –

the reinstatement of Mr. Akkas Ali - President, Abdul Latif – General
Secretary, Jynal Abdine – Joint Secretary, Allauddine - Publicity Secretary
and the 9 members of the Executive Committees. 
The BARI to respect and comply with the rules, procedures, conventions and
the Farm Labour Appointment to Government Control Policy 90;
The BARI to acknowledge, respect and meet with the BARI Farm Labour
Association in order to come to a fair and democratic resolution of labour
appointment issue.

We urge you to swiftly take the necessary action on all the above mentioned
points and for the Bangladesh Government to respect workers' and unions'
rights very seriously.

 Yours sincerely,