Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Deputy Speaker Md Shamsul Haque Tuku today emphasized on joint efforts of the government, owners and workers to resolve the problems of the women workers in the shrimp industry and protect the rights of the workers of the sector.
“If the owner does not see the interests of the workers, then the workers will not see the interests of the owners. So, along with the government, the owners and shrimp workers have to work together to solve different problems by applying right strategies,” he said while speaking at a national dialogue titled 'Position of Women Workers in Shrimp Industry: Reality and Actions'.
Non-government development organisation LEDARS (Local Environment Development an Agricultural Research Society) organized the dialogue at the Parliament Members' Club at JS Bhaban with Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, Coordinator of the Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement, in the chair, said a press release.
Deputy Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar and Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Labour and Employment Begum Shamsun Nahar were present at the function as special guests. Executive Director of LEDARS Mohan Kumar Mondal presented the keynote paper at the dialogue.
Coordinator of Waterkeepers-Bangladesh Sharif Jamil, Assistant Professor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Mir Mohammad Ali, Project officer of Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Halima Begum, former president of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Rafiqul Islam Azad, Oxfam representative Shahajadi Begum and joint secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) Aminur Rasul Babul, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku said that the shrimp sector, which is one of the foreign exchange earners of the country, is under the threat in many ways.
The women workers involved in the shrimp sector are being oppressed in various ways, he said, adding, in order to ensure national development, the rights of these backward women must be ensured.
“We have to work to eliminate all the existing discriminations against women to ensure economic and political empowerment of the women,” the deputy speaker said.
Deputy Minister Habibur Nahar said that the country's shrimp sector is facing various conspiracies.
“Women workers in this sector are decreasing day by day due to lower wages and longer working hours than men,” she said adding that the government is working to solve the ongoing crisis soon.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha