Presided over by Abul Hossain, President of Bangladesh Labor Rights Forum and moderated by Saleha Islam Santana, President of Motherland Garments Workers Federation the rally was addressed, among others, by Member Secretary of Bangladesh Labor Rights Forum Zakir Hossain, President of Central Committee of Bangladesh Krishok Federation Comrade Badrul Alam and General Secretary Zayed Iqbal Khan, Jago Bangladesh Garment Workers Federation President Baharane Sultan Bahar, President of Readymade Garments Federation Lovely Yasmeen, President of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation Rafiqul Islam Sujan, Surmaiya Islam, Jahangir Hossain, Ritu’s colleague eye witness Ujjal, Textile and Garment Workers Federation General Secretary Tapon Shah, Bangladesh Garment Textile Workers Federation President Shamim Ara Shirin, General Secretary of Motherland Garment Workers Federation Md. Al-Amin, Garment Tailors Workers League labor leader Rakibul Islam, Bangladesh Kishani Sabha leader Rehana Begum.

Labor leader Abul Hossain speaking in the rally

Speakers said that on the night of October 21, 5 miscreants intercepted Ritu at the Matin Gate area of Haji Bari in Kashimpur on their way home from work with Ujjwal, a colleague of Dream Knitwear Ltd. garment worker Ritu. Later 2 miscreants out of 5 confined Ujjwal and 3 others brought Ritu a little bit far and raped her by turn. The leaders strongly condemned the medieval demonic rape of Ritu and demanded the arrest and exemplary punishment of the rapists.

The leaders questioned the safety of the garment workers and expressed deep concern over the increasing number of such heinous and barbaric incidents in the garment industry. They called on the government to ratify ILO Conventions 189 and 190 in the field of garment industry.

It can be pointed out that a case was registered with Kashimpur police station in this regard with the direct help of labor leader Saleha Islam Santana and garment owner. Police were able to arrest 5 accused at night and in the morning. However, on October 23, Kashimpur Police released the main accused Maulana Akhter and Emarat. The police kept the victim Ritu in the custody of the police station for 5 days instead of sending her to the hospital for a quick medical examination and ruined the evidence. Ritu alleged that the police kept her in the custody of the police station for the last 5 days and harassed her in various ways.

Garment woman leader Lovely Yasmin speaking in the rally

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