Trade Unions in Bangladesh May Wipe out Local and Foreign Investments: an Observational Study

Trade unions and terror unions by their very meanings and comparisons, peculiar behavior patterns, growths and developments both in the past and in recent years have become almost synonymous now-a-days in a problem oriented, relatively poorly managed country like Bangladesh. The purpose for which Trade Unions are allowed to be introduced under the coverage’s of local and international Laws and conventions although are not bad, but the practices and experience of Trade Unions in Bangladesh have become an eyesore for local and foreign governments, donors, policy makers, investors and entrepreneurs. Trade Unions has become one of the major issues in making investment decisions both by local and foreign Investors. Foreign Investors in export processing zones areas were worried about Trade Unions so much so that the Govt. of Bangladesh had to make an agreement with all foreign investors and local investors in EPZ areas banning any sort of Trade Unions in industries/ Factories under BEPZA. Since Trade Unions was clearly banned in EPZ areas, no industrial turmoil occurred in any industry anytime excepting certain specified Localized Ignorable simple problems which are solved within hours not hanipering either productivity or working atmosphere, environment around and profitability. Although EPZ industries still face certain unnecessary corruption bottleneck by various GOB (Govt. of Bangladesh) agencies, can somehow go comfortable with these inbuilt corruption practices of various bureaucratic machineries since they are not facing the greatest terrorists like Trade Unions in their mills and factories. In other words, paying off certain bribes is better than the killer Trade4 Unions because the latter can damage the whole factory or industrial Unions by its multifarious negative and destructive activities. What is a Trade Union under our Laws? What are the I.L.O. conventions regarding Trade Unions? How are they allowed to operate? What are the Malpractice of Trade Unions? Should a Trade Union violate natural rules of justice? How and why export oriented private Industries in BEPZ areas dislike introduction of Trade Unions in Bangladesh? Why the USA diplomat is made after his country’s dictation to be followed by all EPZ industries in Bangladesh? What is the inside story behind such compulsion by the USA ambassador? What is the stand of the Investors in EPZ areas of Chittagong, Dhaka and BFPZA areas? How is the Ministry of commerce, Govt. of the peoples republic of Bangladesh reacting? These are, among others, a lot of questions to be answered in order to have a focus on our subject matter.