Dhaka, Jan 18 – ‘Bangladesh Garments Sromik Songhoti’ on Friday formed a human chain in front of the national press club in the capital and demanded the withdrawal of false cases against their fellows, which have filled after the protest and urged for the increase in the wages of the garment workers. They also demanded the trial of a killed protester named Sumon. Speakers in the human chain said, “The garment workers have been protesting to increase wages from the starting of January. Worker demonstrated in Gazipur, Hemayetpur, Savar, Ashulia, Narayanganj areas. During the protest, police shot Sumon Mia. Soon after forming, a new government the first shot dead by a bullet is a garment worker, which is very condemnable.
Speakers urged the government to ensure the safety of Ready Made Garment (RMG) workers who demonstrated over wage disparity. They demanded the release of nabbed workers and urged factory owners to rescind the suspension of the protesters. Several factories sacked over 100 workers, for taking part in illegal strikes and posted their names and pictures on a notice board. The arrest and suspension of workers will not do the sector any good.
Condemning the arrest leaders of the labor organizations said that the name mentioned in the cases -almost all of the workers have been terminated. Among the accused, there are a large number of women workers.
After finishing the Ready Made Garment (RMG) workers protest from January 8 to 14, seeking higher wages and overhauling the wage structure announced by the government, several factory authorities filed cases against 2,000 workers for theft, vandalism, assault, factory damage and threats. Thousands of workers have suspended after the protests. – Staff Reporter
