Govt eases trade union rules

The government on September 3 approved a draft of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2018 to make it workers-friendly in line with the suggestion of the international communities. Under the proposed law, workers' participation required to form trade unions at factories will be reduced to 20 percent from the existing 30 percent. Besides, it provides for mandatory maternity leave and ban on child labour in factories. It curtails discrepancy power of the director general of the labour department in cancelling registration of a trade union. The draft proposed punitive actions for workers for acts like physical assault, issuing threat or mounting undue pressure to compel owners to sign any agreement, disrupting power, gas or water supplies, and unlawful shutdowns.

Birangana Rama Chowdhury passes away

Rama Chowdhury, a writer and a Birangana of the Liberation War, passed away at a hospital on September 3. She was 78. The writer had been suffering from illness since she sustained fracture in her waist after she fell down at her residence in Boalkhali upazila of the district on December 24, 2017. Born at Popadia village in Boalkhali upazila in 1941, Rama Chowdhury fell prey to perverted Pakistani military forces at her residence on May 13, 1971 during the Liberation War. Later, the freedom fighter wielded her pen and wrote 19 books, including novel, poetry, articles, alongside teaching in high schools.

Child killed in accident: Father sues bus owner, driver and helper

Three people, including the driver, were sued on August 31 in connection with the death of 13-month-old AkifaYasmin who was hit by a bus. The other two accused are the owner of the bus and the driver's helper. "Police are trying to arrest the accused," he said. Akifa died of head injuries on Thursday at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. She was critically injured after she fell from her mother RinaKhatun's arms when the two was hit by the bus on Tuesday. A CCTV footage obtained by the police shows that the bus was stationary when Rina started crossing the road with Akifa in her arms. As she was about to cross the stationary bus, the driver set off without warning, hitting Rina and Akifa before speeding away.

Malaysia detains 500 'illegal' migrants including Bangladeshis

The Immigration Department of Malaysia on September 1 detained at least 500 undocumented migrants, including Bangladeshis, during a nationwide crackdown against 'illegal' immigrants. More than 5,000 foreigners have been checked nationwide resulting in the arrests of over 500 illegals, reports the country's national news agency Bernama citing Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali, director-general of the immigration department. Malaysian government has begun the crackdown after the end of an amnesty programme that had allowed the irregular migrant workers to return to their countries by paying fine worth Tk 8,000.