Bangladesh Labour Welfare Federation central president Advocate Atikur Rahman said workers’ basic rights have not been ensured even after 55 years of independence. He made the remarks on Monday as chief guest at a river transport workers’ gathering at the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association auditorium in the capital, organized by the federation’s water transport sector.

Rahman said workers joined students during the July Revolution to seek their rights and that more than 300 workers were martyred. He said a complete list of those workers would be formally published soon. He added that working people have faced multiple forms of discrimination for a long time, while expectations of fair wages, social dignity, security and state recognition in a new Bangladesh have not been met.

He said most workers still lack fair wages, wage boards, appointment letters, identity cards, employment rules, provident funds, rationing, medical care and social security. The gathering called for implementation of the July Charter and Labour Reform Commission recommendations, dignified pay and appointment letters for river workers, and an end to extortion on waterways.