SPEECH DELIVERED BY MANZURUL AHSAN KHAN, MEMBER, CENTRAL COMMITTEE, BTUC, ON BEHALF OF BANGLADESH DELEGATION AT THE ‘INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE AGAINST BLOCKADES AND SANCTION ‘ NEW DELHI, 23 rd MARCH 2000,14 th WORLD TRADE UNION CONGRESS ORGANISED BY WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNION, WFTU
Transcribed in to written form from extempore speech,
Comrade President, sisters and brothers,
on behalf of Bangladesh delegation representing several national trade union and on behalf of SKOP, a Trade Union alliance of 17 National TU’s of various orientation and in the name of the working class we extend our solidarity to workers and people of different countries round the world who are fighting against, Blockades, Embargo, trade sanctions, hegemony, pressures and open military aggression.
Solidarity has become the most crucial point in the present day TU and other mass movements. The global onslaught of capital has to be resisted today by united action of labour on a global scale, of TU’s, political and mass organizations, professionals, humanists and environmentalists and all oppressed peoples.
The country behind the iron, nuclear, electronic and misinformation curtain-I mean the US imperialism is trying to deceive the world in the name of globalization and global village.
The leader of international state terrorism President Bill Clinton is now on state visit to countries of this region. The international laws, conventions and civilized practices developed through centuries of working class and people’s struggle including the UN charter are being grossly violated by these global terrorists. This terrorism extends to all spheres including political, economic, currency, information, cultural, military and bio ecological spheres and all life forms.
The imperialist governments, MNC’s and their World Bank, IMF, WTO, imposed on us their prescription of privatization, liberalization and so-called open and free market concept.
As in many other countries in Bangladesh also whole sale and indiscriminate privatization has lead to large scale closure. De-industrialization, retrenched workers joining million of unemployed. The so-called liberalization and open market has caused our commodities and services to be pushed out of the local markets and flooding of the same by foreign goods and services As a matter of fact in real life our markets are open to rich countries while their own markets are closed or restricted. Even the meager possibility of entering the markets of developed countries is being cunningly resisted by protectionism veiled by so-called labour standards, employment of child labour, human rights, and other non tariff barriers etc.
In the name of open market the imperialists allow free flow or mobility of capital, profits, commodities and machineries but oppose mobility of labour., free flow of manpower, a visa free global village because that will go against the interest of rich developed countries.
The big bosses of the world put restrictions on our garments exports on pleas that child labour was employed but do not restrict tea exports where child labour and virtual slave labour is used in many of the Tea Gardens are owned by British companies, their class brothers. Trade union will of course continue to fight against child labour in Bangladesh and USA wherever it is. We will fight for a healthy and happy childhood which is being continuously threatened by super profiteering.
We are asked to abide by the diktats of Breton Wood Organizations, but USA violated the Breton Wood understanding by unilaterally withdrawing gold support against US dollar and plunders the world economy and continues to do so in terms of trillions of dollar.
Mr. Clinton asks Bangladesh not to give any subsidy in agriculture or other sectors but he continues to give, directly or indirectly, huge subsidies to several sectors including agriculture in his own country.
It is the US government talking much about open and free market which is responsible for blockade and sanctions. It was US government who in 1974 diverted ship loaded with food grains sailing to Bangladesh in retaliation against jute export to Cuba. That US action was major factor in precipitating famine creating the backdrop for the brutal assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder President of Bangladesh. Ours is a subcontinent of assassinated leaders. Much is being said about the transparency but the iron curtain still hides the sins of capitalism. Recently it has been revealed that President Allende of Chile was killed by CIA. Bangladesh President Mujib was killed later. May be we will also come to know about the involvement of the “Global Bosses sand self appointed guardians of democracy and human rights” some times later.
Bill Clinton’s visit to Bangladesh is a business tour. US companies who have purchased several blocks of natural gas field, and are trying to buy the rest in spite of ‘No’ from all the political parties including the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and of course the Left a US company is trying to obtain lease of 122 acres of Chittagong port at the entry point for 198 years to build private container terminal facilities in despite opposition of port workers backed by several strike actions and popular protests. US business circle had been insisting upon the US Govt. to press upon Bangladesh to give business to US business. The US authorities and World Bank gong continuously sermonize while insisting on privatization and structural adjustment, that government has no business to do business. Bangladesh was declared a “bottomless” basket by Henry Kissinger. Perhaps now after a huge amount of gas and petroleum is reported to be in the bottom of our country the US President is visiting our country for the first time. Possible to gratify the guest who actually behaves like a master, our cabinet hurriedly approved the selling of 3 more blocks it is reported. But may we ask what business President Clinton has to do business in Bangladesh?
In the name of unipolar and peaceful world cold war has been replaced by hot wars, the agenda of total disarmament is being shelved and it is being pretended as if peace will be secured by the monopoly of the world gendarme on nuclear weapons.
We express our solidarity to peoples of Cuba, Vietnam, DPR Korea, China, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Kuwait, Yugoslavia, Serbia, Algeria, and all other countries and people fighting against imperialist pressure and intrigue.
We condemn the killing of Abdel Huq ben Hamounda, the UGTA President by terrorists, and killings and repressions on trade unionist and workers all over the world.
Wherever the US President is visiting he is followed by a huge well armed security staffs, the marines, limousines jets, helicopters and so on. The VIP rooms of our 5 star hotels were turned into VID rooms where Dog squads were staying. Dhaka streets were emptied and the left forces, students and women who brought out black flag demonstrations were beaten up by the police like in India and were given a “good lesson of democracy”. But even after that Clinton’s programmes outside the Dhaka city was cancelled. Why? Who is his enemy in this unipolar world? There is no Soviet Union and no WARSAW. But yet NATO not only continues to exist, but continues to expand. Clinton is afraid of whom? People of the world? His own people? Why? Does he realize that he and the State he represents has done immense damage to the whole human society! Osama Bin Laden is now the most wanted man by USA. Who gave him and the fundamentalist Talibans arms to destroy Afghan Revolution? We were told Saddam Hussein and Iraq was fine when they were at war with Iran. Now we are told they are terrorists. US forces entered Panama and arrested its President on charges of Narcotic trade while a US girl Iliada by name convicted by Bangladesh court and jailed was released on the insistence of US senators and taken back home.
Dear friends, times are really hard. But there is a saying in Bengali “Jar Shesh Bhalo Tar Shob Valo” All well that ends well.
Last part of the last century witnessed disaster. The dissolution of the Soviet Union and socialism in Eastern Europe and all that went with it. But the last days of the centuries saw some victories too. Multilateral agreement on investment has been deferred due to public pressure. Right on the soils of USA the Seattle debacle of US President inspired people round the world to rise up again. During the last days Clinton had to cancel and cut short of many of his visits due to public protests.
Three days from today on 26th march we will celebrate the 29th Independence Day of Bangladesh. You supported our struggle, India supported us. We were supported by Socialist Soviet Union. During the last phase of the liberation war United States sent its 7th fleet loaded with Nuclear Arms. But we won. That spirit of Bangladesh, that spirit of India and that of the peoples all round the world, a spirit not of shameful capitulation but a spirit of honour and dignity, courage, commitment to what is just and fair should be roused and we shall win.
We are not against globalization and a global village. But we are against capitalist globalization, for profit in the interest of Multinational Corporations, Money and Military power. We are for a globalization in the interest of people,so to say a Sicialist globalization, or as Fidel Castro said. whatever name you give, it should be for the people, for mankind and protection of nature,for our earth.
John Lennon, a famous singer who was assassinated in America after a performance imagined about such a world where there will be no exploitation, no hunger, no borders, no wars and everything for Man. He sang.
“No possessions, no need to greed
You may say I am a dreamer,
But I am not the only one
Some day you may join me
And the world shall be one.
Dreams that have been dreamt by millions of billions of people since centuries cannot but come true, Soviet Union is no more but its working class its heroic people and workers and peoples of the world and WFTU is with us. Let us march forwarded in solidarity!
Thank You.
Transcribed in to written form from extempore speech,
Comrade President, sisters and brothers,
on behalf of Bangladesh delegation representing several national trade union and on behalf of SKOP, a Trade Union alliance of 17 National TU’s of various orientation and in the name of the working class we extend our solidarity to workers and people of different countries round the world who are fighting against, Blockades, Embargo, trade sanctions, hegemony, pressures and open military aggression.
Solidarity has become the most crucial point in the present day TU and other mass movements. The global onslaught of capital has to be resisted today by united action of labour on a global scale, of TU’s, political and mass organizations, professionals, humanists and environmentalists and all oppressed peoples.
The country behind the iron, nuclear, electronic and misinformation curtain-I mean the US imperialism is trying to deceive the world in the name of globalization and global village.
The leader of international state terrorism President Bill Clinton is now on state visit to countries of this region. The international laws, conventions and civilized practices developed through centuries of working class and people’s struggle including the UN charter are being grossly violated by these global terrorists. This terrorism extends to all spheres including political, economic, currency, information, cultural, military and bio ecological spheres and all life forms.
The imperialist governments, MNC’s and their World Bank, IMF, WTO, imposed on us their prescription of privatization, liberalization and so-called open and free market concept.
As in many other countries in Bangladesh also whole sale and indiscriminate privatization has lead to large scale closure. De-industrialization, retrenched workers joining million of unemployed. The so-called liberalization and open market has caused our commodities and services to be pushed out of the local markets and flooding of the same by foreign goods and services As a matter of fact in real life our markets are open to rich countries while their own markets are closed or restricted. Even the meager possibility of entering the markets of developed countries is being cunningly resisted by protectionism veiled by so-called labour standards, employment of child labour, human rights, and other non tariff barriers etc.
In the name of open market the imperialists allow free flow or mobility of capital, profits, commodities and machineries but oppose mobility of labour., free flow of manpower, a visa free global village because that will go against the interest of rich developed countries.
The big bosses of the world put restrictions on our garments exports on pleas that child labour was employed but do not restrict tea exports where child labour and virtual slave labour is used in many of the Tea Gardens are owned by British companies, their class brothers. Trade union will of course continue to fight against child labour in Bangladesh and USA wherever it is. We will fight for a healthy and happy childhood which is being continuously threatened by super profiteering.
We are asked to abide by the diktats of Breton Wood Organizations, but USA violated the Breton Wood understanding by unilaterally withdrawing gold support against US dollar and plunders the world economy and continues to do so in terms of trillions of dollar.
Mr. Clinton asks Bangladesh not to give any subsidy in agriculture or other sectors but he continues to give, directly or indirectly, huge subsidies to several sectors including agriculture in his own country.
It is the US government talking much about open and free market which is responsible for blockade and sanctions. It was US government who in 1974 diverted ship loaded with food grains sailing to Bangladesh in retaliation against jute export to Cuba. That US action was major factor in precipitating famine creating the backdrop for the brutal assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder President of Bangladesh. Ours is a subcontinent of assassinated leaders. Much is being said about the transparency but the iron curtain still hides the sins of capitalism. Recently it has been revealed that President Allende of Chile was killed by CIA. Bangladesh President Mujib was killed later. May be we will also come to know about the involvement of the “Global Bosses sand self appointed guardians of democracy and human rights” some times later.
Bill Clinton’s visit to Bangladesh is a business tour. US companies who have purchased several blocks of natural gas field, and are trying to buy the rest in spite of ‘No’ from all the political parties including the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and of course the Left a US company is trying to obtain lease of 122 acres of Chittagong port at the entry point for 198 years to build private container terminal facilities in despite opposition of port workers backed by several strike actions and popular protests. US business circle had been insisting upon the US Govt. to press upon Bangladesh to give business to US business. The US authorities and World Bank gong continuously sermonize while insisting on privatization and structural adjustment, that government has no business to do business. Bangladesh was declared a “bottomless” basket by Henry Kissinger. Perhaps now after a huge amount of gas and petroleum is reported to be in the bottom of our country the US President is visiting our country for the first time. Possible to gratify the guest who actually behaves like a master, our cabinet hurriedly approved the selling of 3 more blocks it is reported. But may we ask what business President Clinton has to do business in Bangladesh?
In the name of unipolar and peaceful world cold war has been replaced by hot wars, the agenda of total disarmament is being shelved and it is being pretended as if peace will be secured by the monopoly of the world gendarme on nuclear weapons.
We express our solidarity to peoples of Cuba, Vietnam, DPR Korea, China, Palestine, Syria, Libya, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Kuwait, Yugoslavia, Serbia, Algeria, and all other countries and people fighting against imperialist pressure and intrigue.
We condemn the killing of Abdel Huq ben Hamounda, the UGTA President by terrorists, and killings and repressions on trade unionist and workers all over the world.
Wherever the US President is visiting he is followed by a huge well armed security staffs, the marines, limousines jets, helicopters and so on. The VIP rooms of our 5 star hotels were turned into VID rooms where Dog squads were staying. Dhaka streets were emptied and the left forces, students and women who brought out black flag demonstrations were beaten up by the police like in India and were given a “good lesson of democracy”. But even after that Clinton’s programmes outside the Dhaka city was cancelled. Why? Who is his enemy in this unipolar world? There is no Soviet Union and no WARSAW. But yet NATO not only continues to exist, but continues to expand. Clinton is afraid of whom? People of the world? His own people? Why? Does he realize that he and the State he represents has done immense damage to the whole human society! Osama Bin Laden is now the most wanted man by USA. Who gave him and the fundamentalist Talibans arms to destroy Afghan Revolution? We were told Saddam Hussein and Iraq was fine when they were at war with Iran. Now we are told they are terrorists. US forces entered Panama and arrested its President on charges of Narcotic trade while a US girl Iliada by name convicted by Bangladesh court and jailed was released on the insistence of US senators and taken back home.
Dear friends, times are really hard. But there is a saying in Bengali “Jar Shesh Bhalo Tar Shob Valo” All well that ends well.
Last part of the last century witnessed disaster. The dissolution of the Soviet Union and socialism in Eastern Europe and all that went with it. But the last days of the centuries saw some victories too. Multilateral agreement on investment has been deferred due to public pressure. Right on the soils of USA the Seattle debacle of US President inspired people round the world to rise up again. During the last days Clinton had to cancel and cut short of many of his visits due to public protests.
Three days from today on 26th march we will celebrate the 29th Independence Day of Bangladesh. You supported our struggle, India supported us. We were supported by Socialist Soviet Union. During the last phase of the liberation war United States sent its 7th fleet loaded with Nuclear Arms. But we won. That spirit of Bangladesh, that spirit of India and that of the peoples all round the world, a spirit not of shameful capitulation but a spirit of honour and dignity, courage, commitment to what is just and fair should be roused and we shall win.
We are not against globalization and a global village. But we are against capitalist globalization, for profit in the interest of Multinational Corporations, Money and Military power. We are for a globalization in the interest of people,so to say a Sicialist globalization, or as Fidel Castro said. whatever name you give, it should be for the people, for mankind and protection of nature,for our earth.
John Lennon, a famous singer who was assassinated in America after a performance imagined about such a world where there will be no exploitation, no hunger, no borders, no wars and everything for Man. He sang.
“No possessions, no need to greed
You may say I am a dreamer,
But I am not the only one
Some day you may join me
And the world shall be one.
Dreams that have been dreamt by millions of billions of people since centuries cannot but come true, Soviet Union is no more but its working class its heroic people and workers and peoples of the world and WFTU is with us. Let us march forwarded in solidarity!
Thank You.
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