Speaking at a press conference, the parishad leaders said they will launch a strong agitation against the government from next month as it did not implement an accord signed with the SKOP in January 2004.

As part of the programme, SKOP will hoist black flag at the offices of its affiliated bodies, initiate mass contact with garment workers and take out procession from March 2 to 4. It will also hold a rally in front of BGMEA at 11.00am on March 5 and a grand rally at Muktangon at 11.00am on March 12 to press home their demands.

The press conference was organised by the SKOP at the National Press Club in the city to protest the killings of garment workers in Chittagong and labourers in Dhaka recently.

In a written statement at the conference, Trade Union Sangstha President Khaliqur Rahman said more than 400 workers were killed and 1500 others inured in fire at 35 garment factories across the country since 1990.

SKOP leaders said if the government would have taken drastic action against the owners after proper investigation this kind of incident could never happen repeatedly.

They demanded immediate arrest of the owners of KTS and Phoenix building to give them exemplary punishment.

They also demanded a compensation of Tk 5 lakh for family members of each victim.

The leaders said the government will have to identify all risky garment factories and industries and close them immediately to stop any future casualties.

Replying to a question, Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal General Secretary Jafrul Hassan admitted that the government has failed to protect interests of workers in mills, factories and industries.

"We will continue our struggle unless the rights of the labourers are established in the country," said Jatiya Sramik League General Secretary Roy Romesh Chandra.

SKOP Co-ordinator Dr Wazedul Islam Khan, Md Mokhlesur Rahman, Shafiqur Rahman Majumder, Md Nurul Islam, Shafiuddin Ahmed, Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury, Harunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Advocate Ismail and Shahidullah Khan were present on the occasion.