Dhaka, Jul 31 (UNB) -Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the opposition of instigating garment workers to create instability in the country.

The Prime Minister urged the people not to pay any heed to “provocation” by any vested quarter, and continue their work for the country’s development.

“They (the opposition) are provoking the garment workers to create chaos with an evil design to gain political benefit out of it,” she said while inaugurating the National Service Programme in Gopalganj district through tele-conference from Ganobhaban on Saturday
afternoon.

Hasina postponed her visit to Gopalganj and Tungipara due to bad weather.

About BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s remark that the ground for greater unity amongst the people leading to a stronger movement has been created, the Prime Minister said Khaleda Zia is out to create that “ground” by burning down innocent people.

“Khaleda Zia is a Muslim. How can she kill another Muslim by setting fire?” Hasina questioned.
The Prime Minister mentioned the death of Faruk in a pre-hartal arson allegedly committed by hartal supporters near Maghbazar Rail Crossing on June 27.

Hasina said while the government is implementing various projects to expedite development, the opposition party is out to halt the pace of development.

She said on December 29, 2008 people cast their votes against the corruption, looting and misrule of the BNP-Jamaat government.

“By voting us to power, the patriotic people have reposed a great responsibility on us to serve them and to work for their economic emancipation,” she said.

Hasina said the opposition party is creating obstacles to development as they do not care for the welfare and prosperity of the masses.

The Prime Minister renewed her vow to root out corruption and bring the war criminals to book.
About the government’s national service programme, she said the programme has also been launched in Barguna and Kurigram districts.

Gradually, all the country’s districts and upazilas will be brought under the national service programme, she said, adding that resolving the unemployment crisis is her government’s election pledge.

A total of 19,394 youths will be employed under the National Service programme in Gopalganj.
In another teleconference on the occasion of opening two BGMEA projects at the Bangabandhu Poverty Alleviation Complex at Tungipara,

Hasina warned that the government will not tolerate any anarchy and destructive activities in the garment sector. She said tough action would be taken against the people who are creating anarchic situation in the garment sector over the minimum wage.

“We will not spare anyone who is behind this. We will find out the provocateurs and try them,” Mahbubul Hoque Shakil quoted the Prime Minister as having said.

Hasina said she took personal initiatives to raise the minimum wage of the garment workers to Tk 3000 from Tk 1662.

Referring to the prevailing chaotic situation and destructive activities in the garment sector by some vested quarters, she said such activities are only meant to destroy the country’s highest
foreign exchange earning sector.

She questioned the garment workers who will be benefited if the garment factories are closed. “The workers should not engage in activities that would destroy their source of livelihood,” she said, adding, “If the factories are closed, the workers will be unemployed.”

Hasina asked the workers to accept the new minimum wage and pay attention to their work.

On Thursday, the government announced a new pay scale for the garment sector. According to the new wage structure, the minimum wage at entry level has been fixed at Tk 3,000, up from the present Tk 1,662.

Leaders of the garment workers expressed resentment over the new wages, as they had been bargaining for Tk 5,000 as the minimum wage.

The Prime Minister assured the nation that the logical demands of the workers would be entertained once the adverse impact of the world economic meltdown fades away and the export earnings from this sector increase in the near future.

Hasina questioned if the affected people, who suffered during the violent agitations, demand compensation from the salaries of the garment workers, what would they (garment workers) do then?

The Prime Minister noted that the provocateurs behind the destructive agitations are enemies of the nation as well as the workers. “Process is on to identify, catch and punish them,” she said.
Hasina also urged the garment owners to be sincere in resolving the problems of the workers.

She said the government would provide rice and wheat at subsidized prices for the welfare of the garment workers.

Hasina was also scheduled to lay the foundation stone for a 100-MW
peaking power plant in the Haridaspur Saptapalli High School
premises, and inaugurate the Tungipara branch of BASIC Bank at
Patgati Bazar Pourasabha Market.

Through the teleconference the Prime Minister delivered her statements at the award-giving ceremony for the GPA 5 holders and opening ceremony of the BASIC Bank.