DHAKA: Garment workers Friday staged massive demonstrations in different industrial belts in the capital rejecting the new wage scale declared by the government Thursday, as they decried Tk 3000 minimum pay as inadequate.
The angry protestors vandalized shops and business houses and put barricades on roads in Tejgaon, Mahakhali and Gulshan areas to press home their demand for Tk 5,000 as minimum wage.
Witnesses said workers took to the street at around 9am and gathered in front of Mahakhali bus stand to stage demonstration on their demand. Tensions escalated in the entire area as the workers started their demo.
Amid the rampage, traffic from Satrasta to Mahakhali crossroads, Bijoy Sarani, Tejgaon Link Road, Gulshan Link Road and Gulshan circle-1 halted for several hours.
Deputy Police Commissioner of Gulshan Zone Chowdhury Manjurul Alam led his force to the scene at 10:45 am and tried to pacify the protesters. He also promised them to arrange a meeting with the BGMEA leaders.
“But the workers did not pay heed to his pleas and went on the rampage. And this prompted police to charge baton to disperse the workers,” says a spot account of the melee.
The government Thursday announced Tk 3,000 as the minimum wage for readymade garment factory workers, nearly doubling the amount from Tk 1,662.50, although the labour side stuck to their guns for a higher pay.
Following the declaration, three labour organizations-- Garment Sramik Oikya Parishad, Jatiya Sramik Jote and Garment Sramik Jote-- rejected the pay structure and asked the authorities to reconsider it.
Meanwhile, security measures were beefed up in the apparel industrial hub in Savar-Ashulia area in the wake of Friday’s labour unrest in the capital.
Police, armed police and RAB were put on alert there to tackle the situation.
Despite Friday being weekly holiday, many factories in Ashulia remained open. Additional police were deployed in front of the factories while water cannon also were kept ready.
“Our force is kept on standby and intelligence surveillance has been hiked,” Additional Police Super of Dhaka Mozammel Haq told banglanews24.com.bd.
Ashulia thana Officer-in-Charge Sirajul Islam said,”The situation is still normal here as most factories are closed today. But, situation can be volatile anytime.”
Factories’ owners demanded “highest security” for the safety of the apparel industry.
Earlier on Thursday, Savar and Ashulia industrial zones were wrapped in security blankets following the announcement of the new wage structure.
Around 5,000 workers of AM Design in Jamgara and New Age Limited in Nishchintapur area went on work abstention demanding Tk 5,000 as minimum wage and restoring other allowances.
According to BGMEA, there are some 250 RMG factories in the Savar-Ashulia belt, apart from those located in Dhaka Export Processing Zone nearby. Apart from those, many factories work on sub-contract.
BDST: 1320 HRS, JULY 30, 2010
