Labour leaders have asserted that abusing workers will not restore a peaceful environment in industrial zones.
On Friday afternoon, speakers at a rally organized by the Savar-Ashulia regional branch of the Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Center, made this statement, in front of Fantasy Kingdom in Jamgora of Savar.
The rally was presided over by Saifullah Al Mamun, president of the Savar-Ashulia branch, and attended by various leaders.
The leaders condemned the shooting and killing of garment worker Champa Khatun from Generation Next Fashion Ltd, demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible, including the factory owner and gunmen.
They emphasized that after three months without wages, hungry workers were forced to protest to claim their unpaid salaries.
According to them, it is the duty of the government and relevant authorities to ensure workers receive their overdue pay, yet instead of addressing this, they have resorted to shooting workers, which is entirely unacceptable.
The leaders strongly called for an end to violence, repression, and wage delays, urging the government and employers to fulfill workers' legitimate demands to restore harmony in the industry.
Earlier, on September 30, worker Kawsar was shot dead at Mango Textiles Ltd in Tongibari, while on September 17, 2024, Rokeya Begum, an assistant sewing machine operator at Mascot Garments, was also killed.
The labour leaders declared that such abuse of workers cannot bring peace to the industrial sector.
They demanded payment of outstanding wages across all factories, implementation of an 18-point agreement, justice for all murdered workers, proper medical treatment, and fair compensation for the injured.
Following the rally, a protest march circled various roads of the Ashulia industrial area.
