Garment workers protested at several places in Gazipur demanding reinstatement of jobs. Five policemen including Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mosraf Hossain of Industrial Police were injured in the brick-pelting of the workers while controlling the workers' protest. Later, army personnel reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Yesterday morning, the workers protested at Bhogra Bypass, Chaikdana, Hazirpukur, Malek's House, Signboard area of Gazipur city.
The angry workers said that even though they were working in the factory, the authorities fired them for trivial reasons. They are living an unemployed life without getting a job. So they are protesting to demand jobs. The movement will continue until their demands are met. The workers blocked the movement of vehicles on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway demanding the appointment of male workers on the basis of equal rights alongside women workers. On receiving the information, the industrial police, police station and army personnel went to the spot and removed the workers from the highway. The workers moved away from the signboard and Malek's house area of Gazipur city around 10 am yesterday, but around 11 am, the workers started protesting in the Bhogra Bypass area. At around 12:30 noon, workers' protest continued in the Bhogra bypass area. Law enforcement officials spoke to the workers there.
Gazipur Industrial Police Additional Superintendent of Police Imran Hossain said that since morning, the sacked workers of various garment factories started protesting in several places of Gazipur demanding reinstatement. At one stage, they blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and prevented the movement of vehicles. When the police went to the spot after receiving the information, the agitated workers threw bricks at the police. Five policemen were injured. Later, the army reached the spot and removed the workers from the road.
Meanwhile, the workers of Bata Shoe Company (Bangladesh) Limited of Tongi Station Road area are protesting for the third day. From 8 am, around 700 workers stood in front of the factory in Dhaka-Mymensingh highway station road area without joining the production work with 8-point demand.
The demands of the workers are that all the workers belonging to the Bata (1095) union should be given all the benefits by fixing a minimum monthly basic of Tk 15 thousand, as before, 3 hours of overtime and dinner allowance should be given to the workers if they are on duty for 48 hours a week, 20% pay increase should be given to workers like the management officers get it in every year, no discrimination in the rate of pay increase of workers with management should be done, family medical care should be provided to all workers, Eid bonus should be paid every year equal to monthly gross salary, re-replacement in case of death and voluntary retirement of workers/employees.
The workers who join the brother and sister movement for the realization of their demands cannot be harassed by the factory authorities, dismissed from their jobs and harassed by the police. The workers cannot be deprived of their fair rights and dues through threats, intimidation and repression due to abuse of power and political influence. Manager of the Human Resources Department, Enamur Rahman, was directly involved in the unfair forced dismissal of 226 workers under the name of Golden Hand Secure (IJJ) and Assistant Manager Salahuddin has to resign.
Gazipur Traffic Police Inspector Al Mamun said yesterday around 9:30 AM traffic was normal but there was a heavy traffic jam on the highway. Army and BGB personnel reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
Inspector Saiful Islam of Gazipur Industrial Police said that the workers are negotiating with the owners regarding the demands of the workers. Industrial police are deployed at the spot.
ZH
