Readymade garment factory owners have urged the government to take action against those behind the recent unrest in the factories.
BGMEA and BKMEA leaders met the Minister and State Minister for Home on Tuesday and discussed the recent agitation in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur industrial zones over the past several days.Md Hatem, Vice President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said they had accepted the minimum monthly wage of Tk 5,300 even though they were not in a position to pay the amount.
“Why is this anarchy persisting even after that?” he asked.
Garment workers are agitating every day even after the owners following the intervention of the Prime Minister have agreed to pay them Tk 5,300 as minimum monthly wage recommended by the government-sponsored wage board.
Earlier, the workers’ leaders demanded Tk 8,114 as minimum monthly wage.
The leaders asked the government to take action against those responsible after finding out the cause of the unrest.
Hatem said, the quarter which is creating the anarchy will do the same even after we accept Tk 8,000 minimum wage.
Md Atiqul Islam, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), led the delegation.
Home Minister MK Alamgir did not speak to reporters after the meeting.
However, State Minister Shamsul Hoque Tuku said the garment owners had urged the government to find out the political leaders instigating unrest in the garment sector and wanted firm steps against them.-bdnews24.com
UNB adds- Readymade garment (RMG) workers went on the rampage through different areas of Ashulia and Gazipur on Tuesday morning protesting against the death of their two fellows in Monday’s clash and demanding Tk8,300 minimum monthly wage.
In Ashulia, workers of about 30 garment factories in Jamgora, Jirabu, Narasinghapur and Polasbari areas took position in front of their respective factories not taking part in regular works in the morning and were chanting slogans on the death of two apparel workers in a clash in Gazipur yesterday (Monday), said Mustafizur Rahman, director of Ashulia Industrial Police.
During the demonstration, the workers also raised a voice for Tk 8,300 as minimum wage. Later, all workers put up barricade on the Abdullahpur-Bypile road disrupting vehicular movement. On information, police rushed to the spot and dispersed the unruly workers by lobbing teargas canisters and charging batons, leaving 25 people injured.
The authorities of the 30 factories declared holiday for today (Tuesday) apprehending further trouble. On Monday, two workers were killed as they clashed with law enforcers in Gazipur demanding Tk 8,300 as minimum wage. In Gazipur, RMG workers blocked the Kashimpur-Sreepur road by placing logs and burning tyres in Sardaganj area of the city for one hour halting traffic.
When police tried to disperse them the workers pelted brick chips to the law enforcers forcing them to take action. Later, police dispersed them by lobbing teargas shells and charging batons, leaving 10 people injured. In another incident, the workers of several sweater factories staged demonstration demanding wage hike at Konabari in the city.
When they tried to block Dhaka-Tangail highway police charged baton to disperse them, leaving 10 people injured. Besides, chase and counter-chase took place between the garment workers and police at Pagar in Tongi, leaving 10 people injured. Meanwhile, the authorities suspended production in 50 apparel factories on apprehension of possible workers’ unrest in Kunabari of Kashimpur.
