Industrial failures rooted in past misgovernance

Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain blamed on Saturday past misgovernance and political abuse for the failure of the country's industrial sector, stating that factory owners used to hold political power and parliamentary positions, leading to exploitation rather than fair governance, reports UNB.

"Many ministers and MPs of the former regime, who also won factories, fled abroad without paying workers' wages. Their assets, including houses, cars and land, are being liquidated to compensate the workers," the adviser said while speaking at a shadow parliament organised by Debate for Democracy on labour rights.

He said efforts are underway to issue red alert via Interpol to bring back absconding owners who escaped without clearing workers' dues.

Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman attended the event as the special guest while Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron presided over the session.

Referring to the July Uprising, Sakhawat said the movement saw significant participation and casualties among students and also labourers, driven by long-standing frustration and injustice.

He also alleged that the Rana Plaza rescue of a female worker 17 days after the collapse was a "staged drama," and blamed previous government negligence for the disaster.

Chairman Kiron warned that unless the legitimate demands of workers are fulfilled, the achievements of the July revolution could be lost.