Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has said that the state must take responsibility for educating the children of workers so they can rise to leadership positions, including that of prime minister. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at the triennial national conference of the Bangladesh Workers Welfare Federation held at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that workers are citizens who also contribute through their votes, and their rights should not be left solely to employers. He called for the establishment of quality specialized hospitals in industrial areas alongside general hospitals, with treatment costs shared by employers. He also highlighted the historical role of workers in Bangladesh’s liberation war and later movements, criticizing successive governments for neglecting workers’ demands.

He further stressed the need for harmony between owners and workers, noting that industries can only survive when both sides thrive. The event was chaired by outgoing federation president A. N. M. Shamsul Islam and attended by several political leaders as special guests.