A fun-filled day for garment workers

A daylong workers' fair was organised in the port city of Chittagong yesterday to let ready-made garment (RMG) workers have a brief respite from the regular workplace treadmill and get a mental boost.Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters.

Association (BGMEA) organised the fair titled 'Sramik Mela 2010' with a view to providing fun-filled recreation for the RMG workers, the lifeline of the country's economy.

State Minister for Home Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku inaugurated the fair as the chief guest at Chittagong MA Aziz Stadium.

Chittagong City Corporation Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury attended the funfair as the special guest while BGMEA First Vice-President Nasir Uddin Chowdhury presided over it.

Addressing the festival, Tuku called on the garment owners and workers to work together safeguarding the interests of each other and ensuring economic development.

He directed the law enforcement agencies to discharge their duties remaining above undue influence and ensuring safety as well as security of business people and their activities.

The state minister called on all to remain alert against those trying to create anarchy at educational arena and pose a major threat to regional law and order.

He also urged them to help the government fight poverty and the law enforcers wipe out terrorism and fundamentalism.

Before inaugurating the fair by releasing balloons and pigeons, Tuku along with others observed one minute's silence in remembrance of those who met tragic deaths at a garment factory in Gazipur on Thursday night.

The participants and guests led by the CCC mayor also prayed for the salvation of the departed souls.

Former first vice-presidents of BGMEA Md Ershad Ullah and SM Abu Tayab, directors Liakat Ali Chowdhury, AM Chowdhury Salim, engineer Md Kafil Uddin Yusuf, Mainuddin Khan Mintu, Mohammad Musa, Md Farhat Abbas, Hasanuzzaman Chowdhury and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Labour ANM Saif Uddin were present.

The BGMEA leaders said there was around 30 percent shortage of workers in the garment sector and sought further cooperation from the government to arrange training to build skilled workforce.

Later, a cultural function was held where workers from different garment factories took part and performed.

At the opening session at 10:00am, painting and maths competition were held with the participation of the children of garment workers.

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