Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1972)

The Committee notes the comments submitted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) dated 24 August 2010, concerning issues already raised by the Committee as well as serious allegations on killings and physical assaults of protesters and arrests of trade union leaders. The Committee recalls that freedom of association and in particular the right to organize under the Convention can only be exercised in a climate that is free from violence, pressure or threats of any kind against the leaders and members of workers’ organizations and that detention of trade unionists for reasons connected with their activities in defence of the interests of workers, constitutes a serious interference with civil liberties in general and with trade union rights in particular. In these circumstances, the Committee urges the Government to provide full particulars in respect of all the allegations of killings, physical assaults and detention of trade unionists and trade union leaders.

The Committee also requests the Government to send information on the other matters raised by the Committee in its 2009 observation (80th Session), for examination in the context of the regular reporting cycle in 2011.