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FAMOUS INFLUENTIAL & LABOUR LEADERS OF BANGLADESH

Md. Israfil Alam

Bangladesh found a charismatic Labour Leader in the late 80’s, Md. Israfil Alam, who echoed the voice of all the working class people of Bangladesh at the highest level. He made historic contributions to the development and welfare of the labours and workers of Bangladesh, from the policy and law making to implementation, he walked all the alleys. Today, he has become an icon and model for many because of his strong, ethical, courageous and compassionate role as a visionary leader.

While Md. Israfil Alam was working in Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company Limited as a government employee, he got exposed to the difficulties and hurdles, befalling the mass workers of that organization as well as other sectors of the country, and as such, he decided to contribute to the overall development of working-class people. His dedication, involvement and constructive role in state owned biggest gas transmission and distribution company’s Trade Union activities grabbed the public attention and he emerged with capable and effective leadership attributes within a short period of time. After three years of his joining in Titas Gas Company he was implicated in a murder case with false charge out of political motivation and was suspended from his job. After long pain and suffering of 16 months, he was declared “Free from all charges” and was released with complete dignity and pride by the highest court of the country.

Since the embryonic stage of life, Md. Israfil Alam is a die-heard follower of the Father of the Nation, Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He served as the Office Secretary of Dhaka City Sromik League (Dhaka City labour wing of Awami League) very successfully from 1987-1991. From 1991-1996, as the Member Secretary of the Convening Committee and at the same time he was also the Acting Office Secretary of Central Sromik League (National labour wing of Awami League). He served as the Secretary General of undivided Dhaka City Sromik League from 1997-2012.

He is the founder and advisor of Different Trade Unions of Bangladesh, encompassing Basic Union, Sectorial Union and National Union.

From 2001 to 2011, Md. Israfil Alam successfully worked to form the local committee of Sromik League in 25 Thana Committees (Police Station) and 86 Ward Committees under the direct supervision of Sheikh Hasina, the president of Bangladesh Awami League and the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Because of his identity, popularity and leadership qualities, Md. Israfil Alam got the nomination as a candidate for Member Parliament for Bangladesh Awami League in the 8th National Parliament Elections held in 2001. He did not win but his huge popularity was displayed by the 84 thousand votes he received in his favour. In 9th National Parliament Elections in 2008, he was again nominated as a candidate for Member Parliament for Bangladesh Awami League and was elected by a distinctive margin of votes. He was re-elected as a Member Parliament for Bangladesh Awami League in the 10th National Parliament Elections in 2014 again by one of the biggest difference in votes in the country.

As a skilled and vocal parliamentarian, Md. Israfil Alam has been playing his charismatic role in favour of the mass people, especially the working class people in the parliament. He started the public hearing system for the first time in the parliamentary history of Bangladesh during the amendment process of National Labour Law. He contributed in the parliament process through various capacity such as the Chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on extreme poverty, and as the Chairman of Parliamentary Coccus on Migration and Development.

As a senior parliamentarian, Md. Israfil Alam, in different tenures, served as the Chairman and Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour & Employment Ministry. He also served as a Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee for Ministry of Expatriates Welfare & Overseas Employment, as a Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee for Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resource, as a Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee for ICT, and as a Member of Parliamentary Standing Committee for Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Md. Israfil Alam played a very important role in development and modernization of 3rd National Labour Policy of Bangladesh, which is marked as a historic development for the labours of Bangladesh. He highly encouraged democratic practices in labour organizations and established rights for the migrant workers. He geared up the means of promoting safety and rights for unorganized labours, and formulated a balanced wage structure for workers at the national level. His cultural and intellectual attributes to update Bangladesh National Labour Law in 2013 is appreciated by all.

He was the key contributor to in formulating the National Migration Policy and National Migration Law for the migrant workers of Bangladesh. He also played a key role in the establishment and contributed to the Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy and Labour Welfare Fund Law of Baqngladesh. Because of his continuous efforts, the Central Fund for the welfare of RMG workers was established in Bangladesh. He is working hard to stop child labour, bonded labour and forced lobour in Bangladesh.

Md. Israfil Alam has been tremendous activist and a prominent voice for the Rights, Welfare and development of the scheduled castes and tribes (marginal community of the society), especially the Dalits and Harijans not only in Bangladesh but around the world.

He is has been persistently working for the development and welfare of the cleaner’s community, domestic workers, agricultural workers, tea garden workers, rice mill and boiler workers, hostel and restaurant workers, hawkers, rickshaw pullers, jute and textile workers, porters, transport workers, construction workers, daily workers and continuously supporting them in every way possible.

On the other hand he is an established leader of agriculture based cooperative and rural development sector of Bangladesh. He is elected twice as the Chairman of Bangladesh National Co-Operative Federation for Rural Development, under which 453 Upazilla Central Co-Operative associations are being governed in most of the regions of Bangladesh. It is the only one democratic organization for co-operative farmers at the national level.

He is the General Sectary for Bangladesh Auto Tempo Drivers & Workers Federation. And he served as a Former Leader in Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA). He won the Best Labour Organizer Award on several occasions.

Md. Israfil Alam is a very competent and successful trainer and educator for Trade Union activists. A very popular discussant and strong communicator for labours and workers on national television channels and print media. He is a Life Member and Advisor of Bangladesh Institution of Labour Study (BILS).

Due to his bold voice and uncompromising stands against labours and workers issues, misruling, essential commodity price-hike, corruption, and human rights violation, Md. Israfil Alam was sent to jail several times aggregating to 34 months. He was declared "Innocent and Free" by the trail court for every charge brought against him. During the Caretaker Government rule in 2011, he was accused by the anti-Corruption Commission for the aforementioned reasons but they failed to prove any charges against him and they closed his file. During the time of Awami League rule in 2014, Anti-Corruption Commission again pressed charges of corruption against him and again failed to prove any charges to be true. This kind of integrity possessed by a political leader is very rare and uncommon in the political scenario of Bangladesh.

Md. Israfil Alam visited more than 50 countries to promote and protect the rights and welfare of workers, migrant workers, Dalits and Harijans (Excluded / untouchable section of the society). He was a speaker in the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. He also delivered his speech on  SDG Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions at UN. He participated at the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration where he delivered on his speech and highlighted the Rohingya issue in front of the global participants.

An inference can be drawn that Md Israfil Alam holds the deserving position of a true leader of the nation under the supervision, direction and control of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, working towards expediting improvements in the life-style of every individual worker and labour working in Bangladesh.