INTEREST GROUP POLITICS IN BANGLADESH : ROLE OF SRAMIK KARMACHARI OIKKA PARISHAD (SKOP)

This article analyzes the role of the Sramik Karmachari Oikka Parishad (SKOP), a major federation of labor unions, as a key actor in the interest group politics of Bangladesh. It traces the origins and evolution of SKOP, examining its structure and its influence on national politics, particularly during the anti-authoritarian movements of the 1980s. The study assesses the strategies and tactics employed by SKOP to advocate for workers' rights and influence government policy, including general strikes, demonstrations, and negotiations. The research argues that SKOP has played a significant, and at times decisive, role in the country's political landscape, demonstrating the power of organized labor as a potent political force. The paper concludes by evaluating the challenges and future prospects for the trade union movement in the context of Bangladesh's transition to democracy and economic liberalization.

Interest group politics are a vital, though often understudied, aspect of the political process in Bangladesh. This paper provides an in-depth case study of one of the most influential interest groups: the Sramik Karmachari Oikka Parishad (SKOP), or the Workers-Employees United Council. The analysis begins by charting the formation of SKOP as a broad-based coalition of various labor federations, a significant development in the history of the country's fragmented trade union movement. The core of the study is an examination of SKOP's pivotal role in the pro-democracy movement against the military government of H.M. Ershad. It details how SKOP's ability to call and enforce nationwide general strikes (hartals) was a critical tool that paralyzed the state and demonstrated the widespread opposition to the regime. The paper analyzes the "Five-Point Demand," SKOP's charter of economic and political rights, and assesses its influence on the national political discourse. The findings suggest that SKOP, during this period, transcended the narrow confines of traditional trade unionism to become a central actor in the broader struggle for democracy. The concluding section reflects on the challenges facing SKOP in the new democratic era of the 1990s, particularly how to adapt its confrontational strategies to the new context of parliamentary politics and a liberalizing economy.