Ashulia RMG unrest
30 more factories closed
About 30 more readymade garments (RMG) factories in the Ashulia industrial belt were closed yesterday amid the ongoing workers unrest over salary hike, said law enforcement sources. The unrest in the RMG sector continues as more than 50 such factories have remained closed for several days.
However, workers of three factories, out of the 55 previously closed ones, joined their duties, the sources added. Factory authorities filed three cases against workers for violating discipline and instigating others. Police have so far detained 12 workers. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Tuesday announced the decision to close 55 garments factories for an indefinite period due to workers unrest. Leaders of the workers have termed the decision as one-sided and decided not to join their duties unless they get assurance of fulfilling their demands.
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday put the blame on workers for not keeping their words. Weve told the workers that special arrangements would be made to prevent their house rent from increasing. They told us that they would return to their jobs, but didnt keep their words, he said.
While inaugurating the Digital ICT fair-2016 at Multiplan City in the capital, Tofail said, Were sympathetic to the workers. We request them to return to their jobs.
BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahan told The Independent that the workers should return to their jobs immediately and save the industry. If the workers dont join work, they will suffer more than the owners, he said.
All owners, workers and stakeholders must keep in mind that the Indian RMG sector is emerging and their government is providing various facilities like bank loan, he said.
Asked whether there was any conspiracy behind the strike, Rahan said he did not know about it. On Tuesday, Rahan told reporters that the owners would open the factories if the workers returned to their respective factories. He also said the workers would not get their wages as long as they did not return to their workplaces.
Meanwhile, the Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Mushrefa Mishu, president of the Garment Workers Unity Forum, from Topkhana Road yesterday morning to talk about ongoing labour unrest. She was later dropped off at her home by police around 6:00pm.
Talking to The Independent, Mishu said that police questioned her about the on going unrest of RMG workers in the Ashulia industrial belt. Police also asked her to stop the movement and to urge workers to go back to their jobs, she said. Dhaka Metropolitan Police additional commissioner Monirul Islam earlier said Mishu had been taken to the DB office regarding the workers unrest in garment factories in Ashulia.
Shahidul Islam Sabuj, finance secretary of the Garment Workers Unity Forum, told reporters that Mishu was picked up while she was going to attend a press conference on labour unrest. Three cases have been lodged against about 1,000 workers for violating discipline and instigating others for unrest.
AKM Shamim Hasan, investigating officer of Ashulia police station, said Ha-Meem Group filed a case against 500 workers yesterday. Windy Apparel Limited and Fountain Garment filed two cases against 249 workers on charges of instigating others. Ashulia police station officer-in-charge Mohsinul Kadir said they detained 12 workers following the cases on Wednesday night.
Additional police, industrial police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were deployed in the Ashulia industrial area to tackle any subversive activities.
Several thousands of law enforcement personnel have been deployed at the main gates of the factories and also in the industrial area to avert any untoward situation, said Mostafizur Rahman, director of Industrial Police-1.
