813 workers killed in 630 workplaces in last two and half years

A large number of workers were killed in various workplace accidents for lack of proper safety measures during the work.

Various workers including construction worker, factory worker and workshop worker do not use safety measures like wearing helmet, gloves, shoes etc while working.

According to Safety and Rights Society, some 813 workers were killed in 630 workplaces across the country in last two and half years.

The NGO working for ensuring safety and rights of workers, revealed the report after monitoring 26 daily newspapers (15 national and 11 local newspapers) during the period.

Some 265 workers killed in 2009, 383 workers were killed in 2010 and 165 workers were killed in the last six months (January – June, 2011).

Sekender Ali Mina, programme director of Safety and Rights, said the number of deaths set out in the report is likely be a severe underestimation of the total number of deaths, since many deaths are not reported in the newspapers.

Though many of the injured workers succumb to their injuries later following the accidents, in many cases follow-up reports are not published in the newspapers, he added.

In last six months, the highest number of workers (97) was killed in construction sites, while 29 died in factories and other manufacturing entities and 19 died in service organisations like hotel, workshop, and power supply organisation.

Of the total workers who died in last six month, 57 were electrocuted, 27 died after falling from high places like scaffolds/roofs, 12 workers died from suffocation in septic tanks and eight were burnt to death.

61 other workers died in other situations including boiler, chemical or gas explosions; earth, roof or wall collapsed; hit or crushed by hard or heavy objects and entangled with machines.

While visited many under construction building site this correspondent found most of the workers are unaware about the safety measures and they do not like to use safety equipments.

It is also found that the main reasons of workers fell from high places because of poorly made scaffolds (macha) and they did not use safety belt or harness.

On the other hand, most of the electrocutions occurred when the construction workers work with iron rods nearby high voltage live electric lines passing near the under-construction buildings.

Yusuf Ali, a construction worker (painter), said he is involved with painting for the last ten years and most of the time he works without any safety measures.

He also said, “While some developing firm force us to use safety equipments then we use it otherwise not.”

Safety and Rights suggests proper implementation of Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC), 2006 through establishing the Code Enforcement Authority according to its Section 2.1 of Chapter-2.

It also suggests proper monitoring of regulatory bodies including RAJUK, factory inspectorate to enforce relevant laws, separate health and safety policy for respective organisation, safety plan before starting construction work, providing workers with proper PPE (personal protective equipment) free of cost, health and safety training and right technology for the right person.

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Motorcycle snatching in the city

Hijacking or stealing of motorbikes increased in the capital city triggering a grave concern among the motorcycle owners.

The use of motorcycle in the city increased many times higher then before for various reasons for the last few years.

Everyday on an average 8 to 10 motorbike was stolen or stanched from various parts in the city. Police could not stop the stealing any how.

The duty of police got finished by record a general diary (GD) after the stealing.

The aggrieved people alleged that police did not give importance to recover stealing motorcycle. However, if any motorcycle of police personnel stolen then they recovered it within two to three days.

The number of motorcycle snatching increased in the capital in an extreme rate which makes motorcycle owner worried. So they could not stay in relax after parking their motorcycle in front of the home. They became concerned everywhere.

Even criminals snatched motorcycle by breaking the lock of collapsible gate of the resident.

Victims of motorcycle stealing alleged that they informed to police soon after the stealing incident but from police said first file a case and then they will take action. But the motorcycle goes far away till filing the case and appointing an investigator of the case.

Police have records of various stealing vehicles including car but they do not have any records of motorcycle stealing.

In recent, Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave importance on car stealing but they did not give importance on motorcycle stealing.

A businessman of old town Rokib Hasan came to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital few days ago. He came in a motorcycle while his relative came in an ambulance. He went into the medical with his relative but when he come back found his motorcycle is gone.

He said that he went inside the medical just for five minutes. Police told him to make complain regarding this matter.

But he said that another motorcycle of mine was stolen from Shahbagh area few months ago and he made complain with the Shahbagh police station but he did not get any result.

The result will be same this time, so no need to do complain with police, he said.

An employee of a private organization Zahir Raihan said that few months ago his new motorcycle of Bajaj Discovery was stolen from his garage while he brought it only few days ago.

He said in the morning he found the motorcycle was stolen and collapsible gate of his building was broken.

On august, a Yamaha fazer motorcycle of Mohamamd Shariatullah, reporter of Sheershanews was stolen from the Nagor Bhaban.

Shariatullah alleged that he informed the matter to police but they told his to go police station.

He went to the police station to file case but police said as he does not know the name of thieves so they could not file any case, he added.

He said that later police record a general diary regarding the matter.

Few months ago miscreants in a gunpoint snatched the Palsar motorcycle of Kamaluddin from in front of IDB Bhaban in Agargaon.

Many motorcycles of medical representative were stolen from in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and other medical.

On 3 July, a motorcycle of journalist Dr Awrongojeb was stolen from Badda area. He filed a case on the same night but police visited the spot after six days.

Detective Branch of police arrested some motorcycle thieves.

On DB police interrogation, they said that they do target to new motorcycle mainly those motorcycle was not register yet. They sent those stolen motorcycle outside the capital soon after the steal.

They stole motorcycle at night because the road became free on that time and it is easy for them to left the place quickly.

They made fake papers of those motorcycles and sold it to outside the capital.

Mir Shohidul Islam, joint commissioner of DMP said that the number of motorcycle stealing in the capital rises in an alarming rate.

So that a motorcycle Car theft prevention team was formed few months ago, he added.

He also said that this team recovered some motorcycle from various places.
A member of car theft prevention team said that by taking information about a stealing car we can managed to recover cars but it is tough to recovered motorcycle after stolen because most of the motorcycle was sent outside the capital soon after stealing.

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In guise of plainclothes police organized thugs committing crimes in city

In the guise of plainclothes police, an organized gang of thugs committing various crimes including murder in the city creating panic among the commn people.

These organised criminals are becoming very active gradually in capital Dhaka and its suburbs according police and elite force RAB officials.

The officials added miscreants usually introduce themselves as the members of plainclothes police and waylay their targeted persons for ransom. These groups are also involved in kidnapping, extortion, mugging and big crime like killing in the guise of Detective Branch of police, the officials mentioned.

These kinds of gangs are doing crime freely without any fear. While from the owner of various shopping malls to small businessmen everyone is the victim of these gangs. Mass people are also in fear of this kind of gang, which introducing themselves as Rab, DB and police also.

In last few months various people including businessmen, students and politician were picked up in the name of various law enforcers’ agencies in the capital.

Later some dead body were found in various places in the outskirt of the capital while some are still missing.

Detective Branch of police arrested around 30 fraud people in last one year while they arrested 15 people in last two months, who do crime in the name of fake police, in the city.

DB officials said that around 15 to 20 gangs are active in the city, which are doing various criminals activities introducing themselves as Detective Police. These gangs are developed in capital’s crowded and aristocrat area.

These gangs mainly doing abduction, snatching, murder and release ransom in the name of Detective police, they said.

These gangs stopped vehicle on the road in the name of search and introduce themselves as the members of Rab, DB or other detective organisation and snatched valuables. Sometimes they entered into house or business centre and do robbery in the name of DB police.

They also said on the other hand in the name of detective police few gangs are doing extortion in the various part of the city.

DB police became wonder after knowing that they are doing various crime missions in the name of DB police and sometime by using police dress.

Sources said around 10 cases were filed regarding fake detective police in various police stations in the city.

Mahbubur Rahman, deputy commissioner of DB north said that to change the attention of people they are using the name of DB police.
On Tuesday, DB Police arrested five people including a female from Mirpur on charge of cheating people introducing themselves as Detective Police (DB).

Acting on a tip-off, a team of DB police raided a house at Kalyanpur under Mirpur police station at about 10:30 pm and arrested five fake DB police.

Of the five, one introduces himself as senior assistant commissioner of DB police. His name is Tanvir Hasan Khan alias Kiron. The others are identified as Abul Kalam, Abdul Kader, Ripon and Jerin Sultana Kanta.

On interrogation, they said that they have a marriage media and they do marry in various places by introduce Kiron as a senior AC of db police. Kanta and other members help Kiron to do marry. Later they release huge money from the family.

On October 28, acting on a tip off, DB Police arrested 10 fake members of DB police and seized wireless sets, police uniform, handcuffs, crude bombs, bullets, sharp weapons and two cars from the city’s Shahbagh area.

DB police recovered three wireless sets, two handcuffs, police uniform, six rounds of bullet, two machetes, two knives and three crude bombs from their possession.
They also seized one micro bus and a private car.

On interrogation, they said they do car snatching in the name of DB police. They also do target various people who draw big amount of money from bank or financial organisation.

At first they picked up the man into their car and blind folded his eyes with a black cloth.

Later, they took money, mobile phone, gold ornament and other valuables from the man and left him in a silent place.

Monirul Islam, deputy commissioner of DB police on October 28 said that they have decided to change their dress. They will use this new dress in the time of their operation.
They use the new dress to save the people from these fraud people. He also said they will use the new dress within two weeks.

But the new dress is not in use till December 23, source said.

Masudur Rahman, additional deputy commission of Dhaka metropolitan police said the new dress of DB was not come yet.

While asked that when the new dress will come he replied that “I do not know the exact date.”

He also said that to catch this kind of fraud people our various team are active in the capital.

“So that we can manage to catch around 30 fake police in last one year,” he added.

He also said that this kind of people doing crime in the name of law enforcer to change the intention of the people so that no one can suspect them.

On October 2, around 4 to 5 fake db police came in a micro bus and snatched away tk 4 lakh from two officials of AN corporation.

Golam Rabbani, official of AN corporation said they withdraw the money from Brac Bank of Asad Gate branch and they are on way to Family World tower. While they reached near Shamoly bus counter some plain cloth people introduce themselves as DB police and picked up in the micro bus. Later they looted the money and left both of the officials in a silent road.

A case was filed regarding the matter but no one was arrested or no money was recovered yet.

On October 20, in the same way 7 to 8 people mugged Tk 5 lakh from SM Akram Hossain, an official of a private organisation.

On September 29, some people stopped a motorbike of a journalist introduce as DB police and snatched his motorcycle from in front of Public Service Commission at Tejgaon area.

On 4 May, miscreants identified them as police and snatched Tk 10 lakh from a money exchange trader at Pallabi area.
Mofazzal Hossain said that he was on way to his resident at around 8pm. Suddenly 6 people came in a micro bus and stopped him.

He also said they introduce them as police while three of them were wearing police dress and snatched money.

On November 28, Dhaka university student Samim Hasan, ward 50 Chhatra Dal president Ismail Hossain alias Al Amin and their froed Masum Hossain were picked up by plain cloth Rab from Hatirpol area.

Family members made two general diaries regarding the matter.

Few days ago bullet hit body of Ismail found in the river of Dhaleshwari River while Masum and Samim still missing.

On October 2, AL relief affair secretary of Pallabi thana Abdul Karim Hawladar was picked up from Mirpur 10 and still he is missing.

On November 17, seven people were picked up from Malibagh area in the city in the name of plain cloth police. Later two get release and filed an abduction case with Motijheel police station on November 20. On November 28, body of Jahim was found in Ashulia.

On October 20, AL 41 ward president Nur Haji was picked up by plain cloth law enforcer from his Savar residence. Later on December 3, two of his family members were picked up from their Shamoly resident. Still they are missing.

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Persona closed circuit camera scandal

Police Probe committee has yet to submit its report
Two and half month have passed


The probe committee report of Persona Beauty Parlour close circuit camera scandal was not submitted after two and a half months have elapsed.

The probe committee was given three days time at first to submit its report. But the probe committee extended their time several times and still they did not submit the report.

During the investigation they visited and quizzed the employees of the parlour where the incident took place.

On October 3, a three-member committee probe committee led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nizamul Haque Molla of Gulshan zone was formed by police department on October 3 to investigate the scandal.

The two other members are Assistant Commissioner (AC) Mizanur Rahman (admin) and Assistant Commissioner (AC) Nurul Alam (Petrol).

Sources said one of the important members of the probe committee AC Nurul Alam went for a 40 days leave, so the investigation process became slow. On the other hand another member of the committee AC Mizanur Rahman was transferred to CID department.

While contacted, ADC Nizamul Haque Molla, chief of the committee, said “we found noting new to say and soon we will submit the report.”

He said the report is delaying because one of our committee members recently joined after completing hajj while another member of the committee transferred to the CID.

While this correspondent asked how many days do u need to complete the investigation he replied as soon as possible they will submit the report but do not want to mention the specific days they need.

On September 30, a female customer of Persona alleged that she was filmed on CCTV camera in the service room while changing dress before Spa at Persona’s Banani branch.

On October 3, Mehedi Masud, sub-inspector of Gulshan police was suspended for destroying evidence and neglecting duty.

On October 4, Persona head Kaniz Almas and the doctor’s husband Ishtiaq Ahmed had issued a joint statement saying the incident was a misunderstanding.

Elina Khan filed a writ petition after a furious protest on the issue.

On October 10, A High Court bench ordered the government to remove closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras from the service rooms of all beauty parlours in the country.

Elina Khan said both male and female clients are now fearful of visiting beauty parlour after the Persona incident, which is a violation of rights to live and personal liberty. So the writ petition was filed.

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City dwellers have no clear idea about beat policing

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has started beat policing programme to control the crime in the capital city but it is limited in the name, not in the work.

The programme was started around one year with a view to make police more people-oriented but till now it does not do any work for the people because city dwellers do not know clearly about beat policing.

However, many DMP officer-in-charges does not know how many beats are in his police station while many police personnel who are assigned in beat policing have no clear idea about their responsibilities.

Lack of training of the policemen regarding the beat policing programme is responsible for the matter (no clear idea), some police high officials claimed.

To start this kind of ambitious programme without increasing police members and their facilities, people will not get proper service from the programme, they said.

The beat policing programmes was started following the Koban method of Japan’s police. The preliminary intention of the programme is to solve four major problems in Dhaka city including control drug peddling, defence mugging, improve traffic system and illegal arms recover.

DMP sources said 41 police station jurisdiction was divided into 600 beat to control crime, to collect information and to ensure explanation of the police works. Every beat was led by a sub inspector and comprises with an assistant sub inspector and three to four constables.

Inspector (investigation) of the police station is the in charge of beat policing while officer in charges (OC) doing the coordination.

Some specific works was set by the DMP for the responsible SI of a beat. According to the rules, the beat chief will collect information about all kind of criminals including drug peddler in his beat area.

They will arrest the listed criminals, muggers, illegal arms traders and will take action against the eve teaser in his jurisdiction. They will also make list of all ready made garments, bank as well as financial organisations and contact with those people. They will organise discussion meeting in every week regarding the law and order situation with the important people of the area.

Beat members will make list of political and suspicious people of that area and will follow their movement.

They will collect information of all the floating people lived in the slum, mess of the area.

In this system police of every beat is bound to go on the doorstep of every people of the area and information of all the inhabitant will also be stored to police in this way.

While tried to contact with beat officer of various police stations over phone, many beat officer could not received the phone while some mobile number found switch off.

While talked with many beat officers, this correspondent found that beat officers have no clear idea about it.

Sub Inspector Halim, beat officer of Kalabagan police station said that “our duty is to maintain the law and order situation of my beat area.”

While asked that people do not have any idea about beat policing he agreed with me and told that it is true but he added “we delivered leaflet about beat policing in every house of my area.”

He also said that soon we will paste leaflet or wall writing in my beat area so that people know about it.

Every beat officer will arrange weekly meeting in his area, while asked him he replied that in his tenure he arranged only two meeting with the people of that area.

A former beat officer of Kalabagan police station, Sub-Inspector Shekh Taj Uddin Ahmed, alleged that people did not response us willingly.

He also said that, “I do meeting with the people of the area so that people may know about it.”

“I delivered a form in every house to collect the details of the domestic help, driver and other workers of those houses. If they (driver, domestic help) do any crime in future so we can catch them easily. But the reality is different only few people responses us.”

“I personally think, as it’s a new service for the city dwellers and they don’t know clearly about it so they are not interested to help us,” he added.

While visited Lalbagh area found beat police number in various wall was posted.

Engr. S.M. Anwar Hossain, Chairman & CEO Advanced Development Technologies, said that “I know about the beat police trough newspaper.”

While asked that any beat officer contacted with you he replied “no one contacted with me.”

Komol Gomez, a house owner of Kafrul area, said that he saw number of beat police in the wall of his area but he has no idea about their work.

While talked with a garments owner of Mirpur 13 he said that he have no idea about beat police.

Masudur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner of police, said the beat police programme is already running in developed countries and they got success.

“The beat policing programme is already started in our country and we also got success. We have some problem but it will be solved soon,” he added.

He also said that “we are trying to aware the people about beat police. I hope soon we may able to give idea about beat policing to all the city dwellers.”

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Children working as human hauler helper

A large number of children are working as human hauler helper as it is a hazardous work and it is the time for the children to go school to build their future but children are doing this work to live their lives.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 2003 report, 3.2 million children are involved in labour and 1.29 million of them are involved in hazardous labour. The bureau considers work more than 43 hours a week as hazardous since it is detrimental to children’s physical and mental health.

Previously, boys and girls below 14 years were considered as children. Following UN standards, the government is set to redefine a child, especially its age.

According to the new definition, the upper limit of a child’s age will be raised from 14 to 18 years. Evidently, from now on working boys and girls up to 18 years will be categorised as child labourers.

Yunus, 12 year old helper of a human hauler said, “I am working as a helper for last two year. I stopped my study after class five as my farmer father has no ability to continue my study further.”

While asked about the risk of the work, he replied that “I have to take risk of my life as I have to live my life by doing this and I do not know any other work which I can do.”

“We recruit small children as helpers because they follow our command attentively and work well” said Sariful Alam, a driver of a human hauler and who employs Yunus.

He also said children work at least 12 hours a day for Tk 250 to 300.

While asked about the criteria to recruit a helper, he replied “who can calculate the fare and clever enough can join as helper.

Sajib, a 13 year old helper said, “I am working here for last one year as a helper.”

While asked that why do u work as a helper as there are many other works to do, he replied that “before I started this work I worked as a sewing operator in a tailor shop for one year but the salary is very low while as a helper my income better than my last work.”

This year, “World Day against Child Labour 2010” was observed with the theme “End Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2016.” The government of Bangladesh and non-government organisations expressed their honest desire to eliminate child labour at any cost.

Sharfuddin Khan, Programme Officer of Urban Informal Economy Project of ILO said, “according to the Labour Law doesn’t allow employers to hire workers under 14 years and from 14 to 18 children can do work but light work not the hazardous work but the reality is that many children are engaged in various hazardous jobs.”

So according to law it is totally illegal if any children working as a human haler helper as it is a hazardous work, he added.

The ILO’s official also said, “They are being denied their right to education and the conditions for normal growth while the owner group using them as cheap labour. In addition they in serious danger as it is a hazardous work and we are seen many incident where they are the victim.”

He also said, “There is no one to monitor this hazardous work as they are doing in front of traffic police and police sergeant, over all this is a serious violation of child rights.”

International Labour Organisation (ILO) held a convention in 1999 titled ‘ILO Convention No.182’ considering the need to adopt new instruments for the prohibition and elimination of the worst from of child labour. Bangladesh ratified the convention in March 2001.

But the government is yet to define the worst forms of child labour, which is considered as the first step of elimination of child labour.

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