Firing on workers a direct human rights violation

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) Executive Director and Chairperson of the Labour Law Reform Commission 2024, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, has said that opening fire on workers is a direct and nasty violation of human rights.

He issued the statement on the factory closure, worker layoffs, and the injury and death of workers due to law enforcement firing in Nilphamari on Wednesday.

In the Uttara EPZ of Nilphamari district on Tuesday, Habibur Rahman, a worker at a knitting factory named Eque International was killed and over 50 workers were injured in a clash triggered by police firing during a workers’ protest.

The protest was part of an ongoing movement demanding workers’ rights, sparked by the sudden closure of a wig factory named Evergreen Products Factory BD Ltd and the layoff of its workers.

The BILS executive director has strongly condemned the incident. He called for immediate and proper medical treatment for the injured workers, adequate compensation and rehabilitation for the family of the deceased and injured workers, a fair and thorough investigation of the incident, and exemplary punishment of those responsible.

He also urged that no worker be terminated or harassed due to this incident and demanded the inclusion of trade union representatives in the investigation process. He appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the EPZ authorities, and the Nilphamari district administration to take necessary steps accordingly.

Sultan Uddin said, it is increasingly evident that workers are often compelled to take to the streets to demand their due wages. Factory authorities frequently shut down factories illegally without settling outstanding payments.

He added that the lack of prompt and formal action from the government and employers to meet workers’ legitimate demands forces workers into protest, leading to clashes with law enforcement—something that is absolutely unacceptable.

“This not only results in casualties among workers but also increases unrest in the industrial sector. The use of live ammunition against workers is a grave violation of human rights. I urge the concerned ministries and departments to take immediate and necessary action in this regard,” he added.