Several thousands garment workers on Wednesday demonstrated at the capital’s Bangla Motor, Kawran Bazar intersection, Badda and Bangladesh Garment and Manufactures Exporters Association (BGMEA) Bhaban, demanding their salaries and bonus of Eid festival. At least 30 workers were injured in the clash with police at Badda, the police said.
Over two thousand garment workers of Tuba Group demonstrated at Bangla Motor in demand of their salaries and Eid festival bonus and lay siege to the BGMEA Bhaban around 11:00am.
The BGMEA’s Vice-President Riaz-bin-Mahmud confirmed it and said that they had nothing to do of the salary of the workers of the Tajreen Fashions, sister concern of the Tuba Group, as the owner of the factory was landed in the jail for more than a year ago.
He said that most of the officials did not attend the office to avoid workers’ anger.
The workers claimed that they did not get their salaries since May this year and hence they would be compelled to start tough movement.
The workers warned that the concerned ministry, the BGME and the factory owners would be liable for any unpleasant scenario in future. The workers of a knitting and dyeing factory staged demonstration at Bangla Motor in demand of wages and festival bonuses ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr, sources said.
The workers alleged that the owners had shut down Shishir Knitting and Dyeing Factory on July 14, a concern of Shishir Group, located at Pagar in Tongi of Gazipur without giving any prior notice.
They were bound to come to the factory’s head office at Planners Tower in Bangla Motor from Tongi to materialize their demands.
More than one thousand workers of Rahmatullah Garments at Badda of the city staged demonstration, as they were not paid their full salary and bonus, sources said.
During the demonstration, workers locked into a chase and counter chase with law enforcers in the area. Police opened blank fire to bring the situation under control in which at least 30 workers injured, they added.
Badda Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) MA Jalil confirmed the matter and said that the situation was under control.
The police official said that they have kept their forces on alert to thwart further untoward situation.
