2024-08-02 12:46:10
Samajtantrik Sramik Front has demanded publication of the complete list of those killed and injured in the violence during the quota reform movement. The organization has demanded the trial of these murders and stop the harassment and arrest of workers.
This demand was announced in a protest rally organized in front of the National Press Club on Friday (August 2). President of Samajtantrik Sramik Front Rajekuzzaman Ratan spoke at the protest rally- Vice-President of the organization Abdur Razzak, General Secretary Ahsan Habib Bulbul, Co-Editor Nab Kumar Karmakar, Imam Hossain Khokon, Organizing Secretary Khalekuzzaman Lipon, Finance Secretary Abu Naeem Khan Biplab, Propaganda and Publication Editor Zulfikar Ali, Cultural Editor Salim Mahmud, Executive Member Afzal Hossain etc.
The leaders of the Samajtantrik Sramik Front said that we do not know the exact number of people who have been killed in the student-mass movement since July 16. According to various media reports, the death toll ranges from two to two hundred and fifty or more. The number of injured is more than 6-7 thousand. However, the government has admitted that 150 people have been killed so far.
According to media reports, the list of dead and injured includes children, teenagers, students, hotel and tourist workers, drivers, rickshaw pullers, hawkers, garment workers, construction workers, shop employees, day laborers and numerous working people. Majority of the killed and injured were working people. These laborers lost their lives or were injured by the police on their way to and from work or while working. Thousands of family members have become helpless as the main breadwinner of the family has been killed, injured or arrested. As the government has not acknowledged the actual number of dead and injured and released the full list, there is a fear that the families of these working people will be deprived of justice and compensation.
Harassment and arrests of workers must stop and those arrested must be released. Besides, the labor leaders have demanded to ensure the environment of impartial investigation of each casualty incident, to identify the responsible and give the maximum punishment, to give appropriate compensation to the families of the victims, to give free treatment to the injured.
They urged the government not to cut wages during general holidays, not to lay off jobs and to provide necessary assistance to informal sector workers in the prevailing situation as they are unemployed.