Women's rights activist and photographer Taslima Akhtar said that if the development is not shared by the workers, then that development cannot be called sustainable development. Workers also have to contribute to their development.

The famous photographer and photojournalism teacher who won the 'World Press Photography Award 2014' thinks that the price of everything is increasing due to Russia-Ukraine war, everyone admits it. Cloth-yarn-electricity is being bought at higher prices; only the labor of workers is being bought at lower prices. It can't be.

Taslima Akhtar said these things in an exclusive interview given to Barta24.com on the occasion of Great May Day. Planning Editor Ashraful Islam spoke.

Barta24.com: How much effort has our state been able to protect workers' rights?

Taslima Akhter: 138 years of May Day have passed. This day started with the demand of workers to recognize 8 hours of work. If we look at Bangladesh, try to understand how worker friendly the state is, it will be understood only by looking at the condition of the workers. Even in 138 years, there is still 8 hours work recognition on paper. But in reality, do Bangladeshi garment workers or other workers get a decent living wage for working 8 hours a day? Even after 8 hours they have to do compulsory overtime and the workers have no chance to say, 'I will not work'. If someone says he won't do overtime, he won't have a job. It's a matter he can't live without overtime again. Workers don't actually work 8 hours, they can work 12 hours according to labor law. But the reality is that workers work for 14-15 hours as well. Then such an inhumane life is being led by our workers where 8 hours of work cannot survive with dignity. It is in such a situation that our country is moving forward economically, the owners are moving forward. But the same workers who were seen in Chicago 138 years ago - it seems as if those same workers are different in our country. Workers are seen as mere machines rather than the state's view of workers as human beings, as citizens. Not considered human. This is the current situation.

Barta24.com: Can we reach a developed country without integrating the rights of working people?

Taslima Akhter: Now the definition of development is the same for those who are in power, the same for those who own different institutions. We think that it is not possible to determine the criteria of development with the personal development of industrial owners or those who are in state power. How much a country has developed will not be shown by a big bridge or metro rail. Bridges or metro rails are definitely important for us. But if with them, the workers who are building bridges and metro rails in our country, where are their lives? What conditions are they in? How much are the workers of our country who are contributing to the economy or bringing in foreign currency getting paid? Looking at those places, I think that the quality of life and economic conditions of our industrial owners or members of parliament have improved, but the lives of the working people of the country have not improved. If it had happened, it would have been seen today, we had demanded Tk.  25,000 or Tk. 30,000 wages for the garment workers, we wanted to bargain out of it. But it turned out that Tk. 12,500  was made which is not even close to our proposal. It is difficult for workers to survive on this salary. The salary that the workers are getting is not enough if they work for 8 hours. Now their work pressure-target pressure has been increased so much that earlier I used to see the workers as tired-exhausted by the work pressure; now he/she looks even more terribly tired. Now many times the workers don't even get a chance to see the light of the sun. Workers are in such a situation. This increase in wages did not really change the lives of the workers. He is not able to send his child to school, live in a good house, eat three meals a day or sleep. He has to work for more than 8 hours and in such a situation... he works till night and works at home; then can't sleep at night because there is no electricity. The middle class is in a similar situation. The workers are living in dire straits. Talking about the development, the garment factory owners said, we have made a lot of progress. Factory buildings are more durable and safer than ever before. We also think that these are positive aspects. But improving the quality of life of the worker is not linked to the bricks of the factory. It is also very important whether the workers are getting a dignified life. The definition of development is not only related to buildings. Many big and healthy buildings, plants or metro rails are not changing the life of workers. But the workers cannot go to the expressways. But workers can't go to metro rail - the money has to be paid for the fare. The toll that has to be paid at Padma Bridge is also not less.

Barta24.com: Political parties have organizations to look after workers' interests. How much have they become the voice of the workers?

Taslima Akhtar: A profound question. The regime or environment we have been in for the past 15 years. We ourselves are fighting for a democratic state, if we had the right to vote, the garment workers would have been a huge vote bank. Consequently, where there is no right to speak, there is no hope. We see personal financial development there. Development of workers      not being tapped. If the workers speak up it is not really reflected in this unaccountable state. What happens is that the more fragmented the labor movement is, the better it is for those in power.

Barta24.com: Does that mean political parties create organizations to stifle the voice of workers?

Taslima Akhter: I am not talking about all labor organizations or parties. Organizations all have politics, no problem. But a party that does not speak for the people does not care about the people and only pays lip service - they call the state into question. But we also need to understand what politics divides our movement.

Barta24.com: We see a change in the character of many leftist political parties that currently talk about workers' rights...

Taslima Akhtar: If I speak as people's power or as democracy's power, the name is not important if I do not do the work...If those who join the power and undermine the interests of the people, then there is no chance to claim as a progressive left force. If that is the case, the ruling political party has to do a lot of calculations by trying to gather their own fortune or save their party interests. There the interests of the workers must be violated. Those who are in power as they have been for the last 15 years, those who are associated with them - they also talk about the interests of the workers as much as they speak, but we do not see any reflection of that in reality. If I had seen it, I would not have seen the four workers who were shot dead in the movement in 2023. Where if I speak I will be shot, if I protest I will lose my job - such a climate of fear politics surely does not exist in a democratic country. Workers now live in fear at every moment. We are seeing all sorts of temptations and intimidation and whatever it takes to corrupt the labor leadership so that the workers cannot somehow become aware.

Barta24.com: Many political parties marched on the streets in the capital Dhaka with the slogan of 'Workers of the world-Ek Hao' and disappeared somewhere... their voices disappeared. Whether this erosion of values adds to the frustration of labor activists...

Taslima Akhtar: The slogan finds unity not only in the labor movement but in all the people's movements. The slogan of the labor movement not only of the country but of the whole world. We think that we need to fight both spatially and geographically. The solidarity of this slogan at the global level reminds again and again. If there is democracy, accountability in a country - then the labor movement can be strong. If there is no accountability, there is a politics of fear - there is an attempt to deprive the workers in various ways.

Barta24.com: To what extent has the state managed to ensure a safe working environment for workers after the Rana Plaza accident?

Taslima Akhtar: After that incident many photographers including me took pictures. The whole world came to witness the incident and brought to light the brutal cruelty behind the lives of garment workers. Worker safety is also a big question mark. Even with consumers who are international...buyers get to know the t-shirts they're wearing. We have seen that even after 11 years of that incident, the culprits including Sohail Rana have not been punished. The compensation law has been increased from Tk. 1 lakh to Tk. 2 or Tk. 2.5 lakh.. That is not a dignified compensation. If the government had the will to do so, they would have been punished. Now it is a matter of doubt whether the rule of law works. Who will be arrested, who will get bail - which will not, which case will be fast-tracked, which will not - everything seems to us in the current political environment, the whole thing has become a political issue. Law cannot run by itself. Due to the lack of goodwill of the government there, the punishment of the guilty could not be ensured even after the Rana Plaza incident. If it could be done then the industrial owners could be alerted. If they had to pay a large amount of compensation, they would have been careful. If a garment owner has to pay Tk. 2 lakhs or Tk. 2.5 lakhs then he will not have much problem. Again, if it is seen that the owner of Tazreen can go out on bail and become the president of the Matsya League, then what is the problem? These things need to be taken into consideration. The goodwill of the government is indeed very important. We see that a large part of the garment owners are in the parliament, they control the government and these penalties may put pressure on them. We seem to be stuck in this cycle. We have to find new ways.  We must be united. We have to be careful about who is really on our side (workers) and who is not working for us at the end of the day. Especially in the labor areas, the leadership is being lured and bought and sold, we have to move out of that process unitedly.

Barta24.com: After the tragic accident at Rana Plaza, there has been some improvement in the working environment in the garment factories under the pressure of the outside world, gradually, is it creating any optimism?

Taslima Akhter: I think there have definitely been some changes. After the Rana Plaza accident, the owners said that they will turn it into a 50 billion dollar industry in 50 years, now they are again saying that they will turn it into a 100 billion dollar industry. Now big factories are much better than before. There are also some green factories. I think this is positive. But why the workers are not the sharers of this development is my point. We think the industry needs to be developed, those who are the owners in Bangladesh are running factories with many risks during Corona , so the economy stood still. Garments did not stop even during the Russia-Ukraine war. This is sustaining in the export sector. This is definitely a good thing for us. BGMEA is also working for garment workers. These are good points. A new environment will be created. If that change is only to create opportunities for the owners, how will the industry actually improve the quality of life of the workers? We can only celebrate this change when the quality of life of our workers improves. If we have to sacrifice the lives of our workers for this development, only if we have to waste the youth - the lives are lost in the labor movement, then nothing will really happen. If the workers are not part of this development, then how is it a sustainable development? Workers want their share of development. Workers also have to contribute to development. Everyone agrees that the Russia-Ukraine war is raising the price of everything. Cloth-yarn-electricity is being bought at higher prices; only the labor of workers is being bought at lower prices. It can't be. Hence the development of industry requires dignified wages of labor. So that workers can get it in 8 hours of labor. Apparel industry owners need to be empowered to hold international buyers accountable. International buyers are also responsible for the plight of workers. Many times I see foreign buyers talking about awareness, they want the welfare of the workers - in such a way they say - that the responsibility of keeping the quality of life of the workers is only the responsibility of the domestic owners. They try to deny their responsibility. Certainly workers and owners have an important role to play but since it is part of a global supply chain, the role of foreign buyers is also very important. They take the lion's share of the profits. Efforts should be made to bring them to a place of accountability in that place. Our masters think that only they will be bloated and rich and the workers will be destitute. Most of the workers after 30-35 years or 40 years don't have the will to work anymore, they get old at a young age and we never want to lose energy.

May 1 is celebrated internationally as the Great Workers Day. The day is observed worldwide as a day for workers' rights. Even though the day has been celebrated for the last 138 years, how much do the workers know about their rights or how aware are they?

Ilyas Mia drives a rickshaw in the capital's Mirpur. One son, one daughter and wife live in Baganbari slum. Even if you can survive on any kind of dal and rice with the income from driving rickshaws, you cannot afford to educate your children. Therefore, despite the desire, he stopped his son's school to curb the additional expenses. He married a young girl.

Ilyas doesn't know what May Day is. When asked about this day, his simple answer was - 'What will happen with these days, uncle? I work, I get thirst for it, I don't have any mercy. If I don't go to work today, I won't be able to eat. What do we have to do with these? I will take care of my own stomach, my own family. If you don't work, no one will give you food or water.'

Driving a rickshaw is also a work, in that case you get proper evaluation through your work, Ilyas said to this reporter of Barta24.com, 'None behaves with us well, we work like machine, we work , you pay even you do not show kindness when we carry in this scorching heat. Everyone, young and old, does it. But I have a family; I need to eat, so I need to work. No matter what one uses, there is no way but to work.'

Shyamal Das sews shoes in front of Mirpur Shah Ali Plaza. Although he used to work in other jobs, he started sewing shoes six months ago. When asked how life is going in the job of sewing shoes, he said, 'The whole day's work does not go well. The income is not bad, but the prices of goods are also increasing. I have a little problem for this, but I am fine by God's grace.

When asked if he knew anything about May Day, he shook his head and answered 'no'. A mysterious silence descends on the face, a mocking smile on the face in response to the question whether he gets the dignity he deserves by working as a shoemaker. That smile seems to tell how much respect he deserves and how much he gets.

A severe heat wave is going on in the country. People's life is in a state of panic in such a fiery heat. However, these workers do not even have time to stop and feel relief. So keeping the heat alert aside, he is going out on the streets every day with the urge of action. I am going to work to collect food for the next day. Otherwise, the family will starve the next day.

Sufia Khatun works in a garment factory in Sheorapara. She got married at a young age because her parents could not afford it. After marriage, the garment worker joined the work herself as her husband's income alone did not support the family. The family somehow runs on the income of the two.

When Sufia Khatun was asked about May Day, she told Barta24.com, "Yes, I am hearing about Labor Day today." Today is a factory holiday for this reason. When asked if she knows anything about this day, she said, "I don't know anything more than that."

In response to the question of what is the proper evaluation of your work as a garment worker, she said, "You have to work to fill your stomach." There is no other way. No one will bring home food anymore. But I don't get money compared to the hard work. If I can't eat properly by renting a house, then what is the wage? Earlier, I used to work in another garment, suddenly it was closed without paying any salary. Now I entering here again. This is how it goes.

This reporter of Barta24.com talked to about 18-20 such workers across the capital. But most of them could not tell what Labor Day is, why this day is observed. But some said they don't know much more than that even after hearing about Labor Day.

On May Day, the working people of this city went out to work with the hot sun on their heads. After work in the evening or at night, if you return home with food materials, only then will the fire in the stove burn. Therefore, there is no day for them, but a tin can on the head and rice in the stomach is like a daily, every-night wish. So whether it is winter, summer or monsoon, they never stop running.

The rush started as soon as the train arrived. Pushing the crowd of people, the passengers stood helplessly by the door of the train and waited for the passengers to get off. When the passengers got off the train, they used to struggle to carry the bags on their heads. Then proceed to the gate of the station. The passengers were also happy to tip them.

I'm talking about the coolies running around in red half-sleeve shirts at the railway station. With the passage of time, porters do not have the same respect as before. Bag sacks of passengers reach the station gate on modern wheels. Thousands of passengers come and go at Kamalapur railway station every day. But the busyness of porters stops at the door of the train.

But even if everything stops, life does not stop. In modern bags, baggage, the way of income is narrowing day by day. Now the fate of labor workers is spinning on the wheels of moving bags, luggage and trolleys. Far from running the household expenses, now nearly two and a half hundred workers of Kamalapur railway station have become the responsibility of getting food for their hard work.

One such worker is Anwar Hossain. 10 years ago, he joined the profession of a laborer in Kamalapur holding the hand of Dulabhai. A decade ago, he paid the debt of his village with labor money. He brought some relief to the family by overcoming the poverty situation. But over time that income has stagnated. He has broken his dream and is bound by the chains of porter profession.

Anwar said, work is not done like before. People don't even call. I earn 300-400 takas a day - I can't rent a house for children's education. I have many problems. But stuck in a net of debt. I will go to work outside, but I don't get work. I am forced to do this work.

The life story of more than two and a half laborers of Kamalapur railway station who run their families with the income of labor is just like Anwar's. Being in one profession for a long time, they cannot quit. Despite the frustration and bitterness, sweaty fortunes changed. However, despite sweating, they did not get rid of poverty even in a thousand years. There was no improvement in the quality of life.

Those involved with labor workers say that they are losing job opportunities due to the use of modern bag baggage. Many people are avoiding porters due to economic stress. Therefore, the economic crisis is also playing a major role in reducing the scope of work of these low-income people.

Abdur Razzak came to Kamalapur with a close relative from Gaibandha and has been trying to change his destiny for 12 years. Spending on the station platform from 4 am to 8 pm earns only 400-500 taka. Excluding expenses, the family has only 100-200 taka.

Blaming it on fate, Razzak said, more than 250 of our people all want freedom from suffering. But what else do you do with fortune writing? People slander a lot without understanding. He abuses small people. But sorrow does not understand.

He said 1 girl and 2 boys study at home. A family of 7 with parents. It is very difficult to run on a small income. If you do not work, how will the income be? People don't call us anymore.

While all occupations have a fixed amount of wages, this laborer does not have a fixed wage. Although there are various discussions about the institutional workers, no one is worried about these informal workers. Even the fair wage of labor does not reach the fate of these people. Day after day they are stuck in the net of poverty in the dream of freedom from poverty.

Sardar Mubarak of coolies demanded incentives from the government for coolies at Kamalapur railway station.

He said, we are always trying to get our rights. There have been repeated unsuccessful attempts to evict us by making various allegations against us. We now carry goods using trolleys. We don't have what people give us. Now the modern bag is out. Many are leaving this profession. Yet some are clinging on. Government should provide incentives for us like other professions.

Rajikul Zaman Ratan, education and research affairs secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union and general secretary of Jatiya Sramik Front, said that day by day the work place of workers is decreasing. Various machines and tools have been developed using modern technology to replace workers which reduces the scope of work. We all talk about institutional workers. But there are 70 percent informal workers. No one talks about them.

He thinks that it is important to talk about the rights of informal workers, coolies, hawkers and other workers who are there.

It is important to introduce their rationing system. Besides, if their workplace is not secured, the future will be worse. So we have to work for the rights of these low income people along with the institutional workers. The government should look at them.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that if the workers are deprived of their fair dues, even if he is an internationally renowned person, he will not be exempted.

The Prime Minister said these words at a discussion meeting organized by the Ministry of Labor and Employment on the occasion of the Great May Day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Sherebangla Nagar of the capital on Wednesday (April 30).

Urging the owners to look after the interests of the workers without showing them luxury, the head of government said, "If someone deprives the workers, whoever he is, even if he is internationally renowned, we will not leave him, we will not leave him." Workers have to pay their dues, they have to see.

Noting that the Awami League has increased the wages of workers every time it came to power, Sheikh Hasina said that the goal of the Awami League is to change the fate of the working people. The government wants to develop skilled manpower. It is the duty of Awami League to look after the welfare of the workers.

She said, we have taken measures to ensure that the factories do not close down. Like many developed countries in the world, women in our country get equal wages. In our time the number of women workers has increased to 43.1 percent. Girls can work anywhere. We have created that opportunity.

She also said that besides giving incentives to the owners during the Covid pandemic, we sent money directly to the mobile phones of the workers through Bangladesh Bank.

Sheikh Hasina said that in the name of agitation, BNP has killed common people including workers by burning buses, trucks and workers. We have provided assistance to every affected worker-employer. I think it is the responsibility of Awami League to see the welfare of workers. Welfare of people is our endeavor.