Vigilance beefed up as strike today at RMG hubs

Jubair Hasan | Published: August 09, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Vigilance and security in and around the country's apparel hubs have been stepped up to avert any untoward incident as workers' groups have planned to observe a dawn-to-dusk strike at their units today (Saturday).
Following intelligence reports of possible violence at industrial belts like Ashulia, Savar, Gazipur and Dhaka, industrial police increased the number of law enforcers there to protect the readymade garment (RMG) units from any violence.
Seeking anonymity, a senior security official said they had intelligence reports that some of the key apparel industrial zones could face violent labour protest during the strike hours that could also lead to production suspension.
"We took the report very seriously and all kinds of preparation have been taken to ensure smooth production at the factories," he said, adding that activities of leaders of the labour groups came under their close watch. The measure was taken to prevent any possible incident of violence.
When contacted, Deputy Inspector General (Industrial Police) Abdus Salam said all the officials of the force had been instructed to remain alert with respect to the strike, which was called by Tuba Group Sramik Sangram Committee to realise their five-point demand, including full payment of workers' arrears of five factories of the group.
"We'll not allow any troublemaker in the highly sensitive apparel belts," he said, adding that police members, both in uniform and plainclothes, have already been posted on duty in this connection.
Meanwhile, at least 25 people, mostly apparel workers, were injured Friday as protesting workers clashed with police at Uttara, Ashulia, Savar, Konabari and Mawna when they held rallies in protest against Thursday's police action on agitating Tuba workers.
More than 15 workers' groups under the banner of Tuba Group Sramik Sangram Committee staged protest rallies in all the apparel industrial zones to back the strike, scheduled to be observed today.
Talking to the FE, Mohammad Shahjahan, a workers' leader who was assigned to coordinate the movement at Ashulia, said they brought out a procession in the apparel manufacturing belt.
When the peaceful procession reached the Fantasy Kingdom at Jamgora in Ashulia at about 4:45pm, police swing into action against them and that left at least 12 people injured. Another workers' leader, Emdadul Islam, said their procession was also foiled by police at Savar that caused injuries to 10 people.
"We've taken all kinds of preparation to observe the strike as this is the movement to realise workers' logical demands," he said.
Police action was also reported at Uttara, Konabari and Mawna on the day.
More than 1,500 workers of five units of Tuba Group had been on a hunger strike, demanding workers' arrears for the month of May, June and July and other financial benefits, including overtime bills and festival allowances.
After 11 straight days of the hunger strike, police stormed into the venue of the huger strike and drove them out of the 6th floor of Hossain Super Market, which houses three out of five Tuba units Thursday by firing tear-gas shells and rubber bullets.
Coordinator of Tuba Group Sramik Sangram Committee Mushrefa Mishu and its organiser Joly Talukder, among others, were arrested by the police.
However, they were released from the detention later.
The police action sparked anger among the workers' groups who called the strike at the country's apparel factories today.
In the face of the agitation, BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) leaders cleared two months' (May and June) arrears Thursday last and promised to pay wage for the month of July tomorrow (August 10).
But protesting labour groups rejected the offer demanding full payment including overtime bills and festival allowances on a single date.
However, almost all the agitating workers of Tuba Group received two months' pays offered by the BGMEA officer-bearers. Some of the workers made allegations that they were forced to take the wages. But the BGMEA refuted it.