The government has decided to withdraw the eight cases filed against Bangladesh Center for Workers’ Solidarity (BCWS) Executive Director Kalpona Aktar and Director Babul Aktar. However, the suspension on the US-based non-government organisation’s registration would stay.
The additional secretary of home ministry, Kamaluddin Ahmed, told the Dhaka Tribune Wednesday that the ministry on Monday decided to withdraw the cases filed in 2010 under the Code of Criminal Procedure. “No order will be issued in this regard as it is a matter of the court.
“The ministry has sent a letter to the attorney general’s office and district magistracy to take further steps. The district magistracy will submit a prayer to the court, which will decide whether the cases would be withdrawn or not.”
According to home ministry officials, police filed the cases against Kalpona and Babul accusing them of instigating labour unrests in garment sector. The duo were arrested by the Detective Branch in 2010.
Meanwhile, Abu Sayeed Md Khurshid, director of the Labour Directorate, told the Dhaka Tribune that the step was taken in line with the decision of cabinet committee on garment industry, led by Labour Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, on June 6.
“We are yet to take any decision or get any order about withdrawing the suspension of BCWS’ registration. The two matters are not inter-related and the status of registration would remain the same until we receive any other orders in this regard.”
The cabinet committee also decided to dispose labour leader Aminul Islam killing case as soon as possible. The decisions were later endorsed for immediate implementation in a cabinet meeting following the suspension of generalised system of preferences (GSP) facilities in the US market for Bangladeshi products.
