Workers have attacked and vandalised four garment factories in Dhaka’s Mirpur-14 area, demanding a full bonus and 10-day Eid holidays. They also blocked a road in Mirpur-14 for two hours from 10:00am, disrupting transport movement in the area. Witnesses said workers of a factory in the area started a demonstration in the morning and vandalised the building to press home their demands. The demonstrators took to the street and blocked the road. Police were deployed there to avert the further untoward incident.
Workers of some factories alleged that they were offered one-third of their Eid bonus and that’s why they were protesting. The government announced three-day Eid holidays. The workers have been demanding at least 50 percent encashment against their leave. Many factory owners have been facing financial crisis as they faced work orders cancellation last year by the international retailers and brands.
On Monday, 26 people were injured during a clash between garment workers and police in Gazipur. Of them, 18 workers are receiving treatment at Tongi Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital and Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. According to witnesses, workers of a factory demonstrated at Millgate area at around 11:00am, demanding extended leave on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. When the workers started to move to the highway, police intercepted them. Facing obstruction, the demonstrators hurled brickbats at the law enforcers and blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. Eight members of the Industrial Police sustained injuries during the clash.
We ask both the parties the factory owners and the workers to settle demands though negotiation. The government has imposed travel restrictions to contain Covid-19. However people do not bother about the health safety guidelines. Garment workers who want extended holidays to go home do not have relatives in Dhaka to celebrate the Eid with. Garment owners should deal with them keeping this in mind.
