The world’s largest ‘craft-federation’-the Industri All Global Union-and the apex body of European buyers of garment products-the ACCORD have complained against Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed that he had been intimidating trade union leaders and damaging the brands reputation.
The complaints were lodged by the Secretary General of the Industriall Global Union and the Steering Committee on Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, which is popularly called as ACCORD through separate letter.
The Industriall has lodged a complain to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while the ACCORD in a letter addressed to Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and State Minister for Labour and Expatriate Welfare Mujibul Huq Chunnu held them responsible for threatening trade union leaders. Photocopy of both the letters reached The New Nation office on Saturday.
The Industriall, which was formed in 2012 through merger of International Metal Workers Federation, International Textile Garment and Leather Workers Federation, International Chemical Workers Federation and International Mining Workers Federation, having over 50 million members in 140 countries. The Accord on the other hand, was floated following the Rana Plaza tragedy that claimed lives of 1,135 garment workers, mostly women. Three international rights-group and 177 brands (RMG buyers), including global giants H&M, Indetex-Zara and Premark, are members and signatories to the Accord.
Both the Indusriall and Accord, in their letters, were critical of Tofail Ahmed for what they said, “Threatening to our IBC (Industriall Bangladesh Council) colleagues.”
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, who had recently been to the USA as leader of a Bangladesh delegation, had a meeting with six US Congressmen seeking their support to prevail upon the Obama Administration to withdraw the suspension of GSP facilities on Bangladesh products in the US market.
The Congressmen informed the Bangladesh delegation that a serious violation of labour rights and right to association has taken place at Bhaluka (Mymensingh) as a trade union leader was seriously tortured and his residence and union office were vandalized and looted by hired goons of some factory management. The Commerce Minister pledged to the Congressmen that legal action would be taken against those responsible for the incidents and would resolve the issue on return home.
But return home the Commerce Minister publicly blamed IBC Chairman and BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan, IBC General Secretary and Awami League (AL) leader Roy Romesh Chandra and NGWF President Amirul Haque Amin for secretly passing false and anti-state information on ‘Bhaluka incident’ to the US Congressmen.
He even threatened legal action against three IBC leaders.
BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, in one such function which was attended by commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, charged the labour leaders for ‘treason’. He urged the Minister to try them for ‘hatching conspiracy against the country’.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Labour and Expatriate Welfare Mujibul Huq Chunnu at an ILO function threatened action against three IBC leaders and also union leaders Kalpana Akter and Babul Aktar for ‘anti-state activities.’
Secretary General of Industriall Jyrki Raina, in his letter, recalled the memories of his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when he had been to Bangladesh in February last year. He said, “The remarks made by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed have become cause of concern for the safety and security of Industriall Bangladesh Council leadership.”
“I appeal to you to take all necessary steps to ensure safe functioning of IBC and its affiliated Union,” he said while pledging that the leadership organization along with IBC and its leadership, “are willing to cooperate with your government”.
