Protest by workers of two factories blocked the highway in Ashulia
September 30, 20244 Mins Read
Jumbangla Desk: The workers of two garment factories are protesting by blocking two points of the same highway in Ashulia, Dhaka. The protest is being held demanding change in the fixed date of payment of service benefits and compensation and opening of closed factories.
On Monday (September 30) around 9:30 am, the workers of Donglion and Bards Group started protesting by blocking the road at Nabinagar-Chandra highway bipiles and DOHS points.
After finding out, Birds Group announced the lay-off through a notice on August 27. The notice reads that due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the global economic recession, there has been no work at the factory for some time. After this, the factory authorities continued to operate the business through financial losses. No new work order could be procured despite several attempts, which is beyond the authority's control. In this situation, since August 28, the group's RNR Fashions Ltd., Bird's Garments Ltd., Bird's Fedrex Ltd. And all sections of Bird's A & Z Ltd. were declared closed.
According to the workers, through a notice issued on the 27th, on August 28, lay-off was announced at all the factories of Birds Group in Bypile area of Ashulia. At this time, the August salary of labor employees was fixed on September 10th and compensation along with service benefits was fixed on September 30th. Although the company has paid the salary of the workers as per the agreement, the company has asked for three more months to pay the compensation along with the service benefits on September 30. Due to non-payment of due amount, the workers started protest by blocking the road. Meanwhile, despite not paying the money to the workers, the factory authorities have paid about 8.5 lakh taka as compensation to the labor leaders.
A labor leader, who did not wish to be named, said that the date for payment of dues to the workers was fixed on September 30. The authorities want another three months behind this date. The labor leaders demanded Tk 20 lakh from the factory authorities to explain the workers to take this three months. Later, the Rafa round was held at 12 lakh taka. Yesterday on September 29, 4 labor leaders held a meeting with the factory's lawyer 'Amena'. A notice was later issued by the Bards Group seeking three months' time. When the news of the notice spread among the workers, the workers got agitated and started protesting by blocking the road.
According to the workers of Donglian garment factory, after a few days, the authorities announced the closure of the factory under Article 13(1). So far, the authorities have announced the closure of the factory for an indefinite period about 3 times. From today again under section 13(1) notice of factory closure is given. Therefore, the workers are protesting by blocking the road to demand the opening of the closed factory.
According to the notice issued by the Donglian Garment Factory, on August 25, some unruly workers of the factory got together and started an illegal strike by beating the officials and locking the main gate of the factory and blocking all the officials and employees. The latter raised several claims. Later, from August 26, Bangladesh announced the indefinite closure of the factory as per Section 13(1) of the Labor Act. Later, when it opened on August 27, rioting workers again chased several staff and workers out of the factory.
Later, when the workers started an illegal strike again on September 9, the factory authorities were forced to declare a factory holiday again. After keeping a general holiday until September 14, the authorities again announced indefinite closure of the factory from August 15 as per Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labor Act. Later, when the factory was reopened on September 19, the workers engaged in a fight in the factory on September 23.
Later, the workers again engaged in fighting among themselves on September 29. They ransacked in front of the factory and even ransacked the neighboring houses and shops. According to section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labor Act, the factory has been closed for an indefinite period from September 30 today in the interest of violence and the safety of the workers and employees of the factory.
Abu Bakar Siddique, officer-in-charge of Ashulia police station, said that the workers of Birds group are protesting by blocking the road, the members of the law and order force are working to normalize the situation.
On the other hand, in industrial area Ashulia, most of the garment factories are open since this morning, said Superintendent of Police of Industrial Police-1 Mo Sarwar Alam.
He said the situation is normal till now (10 am). The Lusaka group workers came in front of the factory but later went back, causing no disturbance, but the Mandal group workers are in front of the factory.
He also said that today there are 11 factories and 7 general holidays on the basis of No Work No Pay under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labor Act in Ashulia Industrial Zone. The joint forces are working to restore the industrial area Ashulia to normal conditions.
Obaidul Quader escaped under special guard late at night
