Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Thursday said that the foundation of industry rests on the toil and sacrifice of workers. "To me, the sweat of workers carries the scent of perfume," he said.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a workers' rally organized by the Bangladesh Workers' Welfare Federation at the Paltan intersection in the capital.
Dr Rahman noted that many labourers often hesitate to approach leaders because they are drenched in sweat. "When I see this, I pull them close and hug them," he said. "That sweat represents their identity-it is their essence and their fragrance."
Calling for equality and mutual respect in the workplace, Dr Rahman stated, "No profession should be looked down upon. All roles deserve dignity. Instead of confrontation between workers and employers, we need a shared sense of responsibility. If the workforce prospers, so do businesses. But workers must also understand that if factories fail or owners collapse, their own survival is at risk."
He added, "When an employer greets a worker with warmth and empathy, that worker will give everything, even risk their life. A healthy society must be built on understanding between labourers and employers. This is the vision the Workers' Welfare Federation is working towards."
Dr Rahman also urged employers to provide proper prayer facilities for female workers, pointing out that men are usually accommodated in this regard, while women are not. He emphasized the need for safe and respectful working conditions for female employees.
Other speakers at the rally-among them Jamaat Assistant Secretary Generals Professor Mujibur Rahman and Rafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka South City Jamaat Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, and several leaders of the Workers' Welfare Federation-raised concerns about labour rights. They noted that workers had been denied the chance to gather and speak out for 17 years, enduring repression and killings. With the opportunity now restored, they called for collective organizing and the formulation of a labour policy rooted in Islamic values, pledging to end hunger and inequality among workers and employers alike.
