Several RMG trade unions and left political parties staged a demonstration in front of the National Press Club yesterday, demanding the payment of dues of the Tuba garment workers.
Around 150 activists formed several human chains under the banner of Ganatantrik Bam Morcha, a left political party, and tried to remove a police barricade during their protest. The demonstrators also demanded safety at workplaces and job security. The police obstructed the activists when they tried to march towards the city’s secretariat building around noon.
A few people got injured during a scuffle that erupted when police barred the gathering from marching towards the secretariat building and sources said one person had been admitted to a local hospital. After the incident, the agitators set themselves in front of the police barricade and chanted slogans to press home their demands.
Democratic Left Alliance leader Shuvangshu Chakraborty said: “The prime minister is the labour minister herself. She exchanged regards on the occasion of Eid but became blind when it came to take an initiative regarding the agitating workers.”
The protesters also vowed to lay siege on the BGMEA office in the capital today to press home their demands.
Over 100 workers from 30 garments factories protested at the same place. They also staged a hunger strike for the Tuba workers.
Around 90 workers fell sick from days of fasting and 15 of them, in critical conditions, were admitted to different hospitals in the city. They vowed to continue their demonstration till their dues were paid.
Five sister concerns of Tuba Group – Tuba Fashion, Tuba Textile, Mita Design, Taif Design and Bughsan Garments – have not paid the salaries of its workers. Sources said the group required around Tk4.13 crore to pay all the dues.