B.Mirror Desk: Bangladesh Oil and Workers Federation Secretary General and Jamuna Oil Company Limited (JOCL) Labor Union General Secretary Muhammad Yaqub said that he has full confidence in the decision that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will take on the import of refined fuel oil through the government. He said that they have no objection to this if the decision is taken keeping in mind the interests of the country, the welfare of the people and the rights of the workers.
He said that the workers also agree with this policy of ‘Bangladesh first’ – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Their expectation is that the interests of the country should be given utmost importance in the decision on importing refined fuel oil at the private level as well.
He said these words at a protest march and rally organized to stop the harassment of workers and employees in the energy sector and to realize various demands. The program was held in front of Jamuna Oil Company Limited (JOCL) office ‘Jamuna Bhaban’ in Agrabad, Chittagong city at 12 noon on Monday. Workers and employees of various energy sector organizations including JOCL participated in it.
Muhammad Yaqub said that crude fuel oil is already being imported at the private level in the country. Now discussions are underway regarding the import of refined fuel oil. While taking any decision in this regard, the rights and interests of the workers as well as the overall economy of the country and the interests of the people should be given priority.
He said, ‘The honorable Prime Minister has said – Bangladesh first. We also want to say, Bangladesh first. We hope that the Prime Minister will take a decision on the import of fuel oil at the private level by giving utmost importance to the interests of the country and the welfare of the people. We have full confidence in his decision. We have no objection to this.’
However, expressing concern about the rights of workers in the energy sector, this labor leader said that a cunning group lurking within the government is trying to destabilize this important sector by curtailing the rights of workers.
He alleged that various types of unwanted interference are being used to reduce the existing 22 specific benefits of workers. In addition, there is a delay in timely provision of benefits to workers through bilateral agreements. At the same time, he alleged that instead of making the labor law of the energy sector worker-friendly, efforts are being made to make it anti-worker.
Muhammad Ayakub said that the government is talking about ensuring fair benefits to workers and various initiatives are being taken for this purpose. But the opposite picture is visible in the energy sector. Instead of increasing the existing benefits of workers in various institutions including Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, SAOCL, LPG under Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), efforts are being made to reduce them.
He further said that efforts are being made to obstruct the path of workers and employees in the energy sector to realize their fair rights by controlling labor leaders in various ways. However, workers and employees want a peaceful environment in this sector. Their demands are very clear—harassment must stop, fair rights must be ensured, and a working environment free from unwanted interference must be provided.
“We want to make it clear that no one will be given the opportunity to create an unstable situation in the energy sector. The workers and employees are not asking for any additional benefits; they only want their fair rights and the facilities they deserve,” he said.
The reasons given by the workers and leaders of the program are that the salaries, allowances and other facilities of the workers and employees of the BPC oil marketing companies are made timely through bilateral agreements every two years. But even after almost 19 months have passed since the last agreement expired, it has not been possible to conclude a new agreement due to the negligence and delay of the companies.
They allege that the Energy and Mineral Resources Department took the initiative to draft the ‘Marginal Benefits Policy-2026’ for the companies under the BPC on June 17. This has created a fear of cutting the existing 22 facilities of the workers and employees.
In addition, the labor leaders also complained that initiatives are being taken to repeal sections 209, 210 and 211 related to ‘industrial disputes and settlement of industrial disputes’ as defined in section 2(62) of the Bangladesh Labor Act-2006 (Amended). According to them, if these sections are repealed, the representative role of the workers and employees in realizing their rights will be compromised.