Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, MP said “We are proud of our socialist origins. “
“It is enshrined in our Constitution and it is part of the four fundamental principles that give the basic structure to our Constitution, “he said.
The minister said this on Saturday while speaking at the 9th conference of the Bangladesh Public Employees’ Coordination Council at the Public Library auditorium.
“Many of us forget to mention socialism as one of the founding principles of the state. This is regrettable”, he said.
He also praised socialism for its egalitarian principles and humanism and added “We should have a more humane society.”
He also called for an end to prevailing disparity in society.
Referring to the status of the public sector employees, he said the cabinet has deiced that as directed by the Constitution all employees of the state should be called as such and not as officials for the hierarchy and employees for the subalterns.
Claiming he to be an employee of the republic, too, Inu said “We are elected employees while you are permanent and non-elected employees.”
About the problems of the employees the minister said that he was for a fairer deal for
public employees and that he would take up the issue with the Prime Minister.
Speaking as the chief guest Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashed Khan Menon, MP, also expressed solidarity with the demands of the public employees and assured them “I will be your voice in parliament and in the cabinet and I will take up the matter with the Prime Minister.”
Menon also said a society where there is disparity is inherently “unstable”. “That’s why we have all kinds of new problems like militancy, “he added.
The conference was also attended by George Mavrico, General Secretary of World Trade Union Federation (WTUF) that represents 90 million public employees of the world.
He said in his speech that public employees all over the world -in Africa, Asia and Latin America-face the same problem: low wages and high cost of living.
Mavrico also said that his organization had consultative status in the UN, UNESCO, ILO and UNESCO and that he would use all his leverage to fight for the right of the public employees in all these institutions.
Among others, labor leaders from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka spoke at the meeting and expressed their solidarity with the public employees of Bangladesh.
