The struggle will continue - closing ceremony and pledge at Dhaka
18 April
By UBINIG, SUPRO, Shadin Bangla Garment Sramik Karmachari Federation, Karmojibi Nari, Coastal Development Partnership, LOKOJ, ECOTA Fair Trade Forum and VOICE, Bangladesh
Over 3000 farmers, garment workers, weavers, craftspersons, cultural
activists, teachers, students, development workers and many others from
different walks of life gathered at the Central Shahid Minar, Dhaka for
the closing ceremony of the Global Week of Action.
Many came by colorfully decorated buses with banners and festoons.
The event started at 3:00 p m with some popular songs rendered by Nabapran Andolon - the cultural group and Women Resource Center of UBINIG. The entire atmosphere was vibrant and drew the attention of the people who were passing the roads, the police and security people. They also came together to observe the event.
Farida Akhter, Executive Director of UBINIG conducted the closing session,
beginning with a description of the global context and the major accomplishment
of the Week.
There was one minute's silence in memory of the garment workers, who lost
their lives on 10th April night due to sudden collapse of the garment factory
building. 50 dead bodies had been recovered from the building, with over
two hundred still trapped inside, feared to be dead.
Nayakrishi farmers and workers from Tangail, Ishwardi, Kushtia, Chapai Nawabganj
and Noakhali, expressed their practical concern on genetically modified
seeds, Golden Rice, Water, Services, MFA, TNCs and about British American
Tobacco company. They expressed their determination to keep continue the
moves against WTO, WB, IMF, TNCs and Multilateral and Bilateral Agreements.
A highlight was the song on Global Week of Action performed by Aleya Begum.
(O desho bashi songrame ek howo - Oh, my country people, unite in the struggle).
Most toughing was the pledge session. The crod raised their hands and made
a pledge that the demands made during the week would be continued.
GWA will act as a milestone to protect their livelihoods and resists WTO, AoA, WB, IMF, TNCs, Golden Rice and Multilateral and Bilateral Agreements.
At the end of the session everybody lighted 'candles of action'. After the
meeting closed the candles continued to light the Shahid Minar as a symbol
that the struggle will continue.
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