The long-running labour rights dispute involving Grameenphone (GP) has escalated this week as its former employees appeared before the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Kalyanpur, Dhaka, in connection with a criminal case filed by the company.
The PBI summoned 10 ex-workers of Grameenphon for questioning, with Sub-Inspector Basudev Sarkar leading the proceedings under the supervision of senior officials, it was learnt.
Workers said the investigation was conducted professionally, allowing them to present their positions and meet with higher authorities.
Grameenphone, the country's largest telecom operator, has filed two criminal cases in 2025: one against 29 former employees following a peaceful demonstration outside the company's headquarters on 25 February, which was forcibly dispersed by police, and another against 19 workers for alleged defamatory social media posts (CR Case No. 614/2025) filed on 26 August.
The dispute centres on the Workers Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) for 2010-2012.
Under Section 234 of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, companies are legally obliged to pay a 5.0 per cent penalty on delayed WPPF disbursements.
Although the principal WPPF dues were paid in 2014-2015 following a court order, the penalty has remained unpaid for more than 15 years.
In March 2023, the Grameenphone withdrew its final petition challenging the payment of the penalty, removing any remaining legal obstacle.
However, workers claim that instead of disbursing the dues, the company has used 'intimidation tactics' and the legal system to suppress their demands.
After coming from questioning, Abu Sadat Md. Shoaib, convener of the Grameenphone 5.0 per cent Late Dues Collection Oikya Parishad, made a strong call for unity among former employees.
"We want our fair 5.0 per cent penalty money, which Grameenphone has been illegally withholding for 15 years. Instead of resolving the issue, our peaceful human-chain programme came under police attack, Grameenphone filed 'false cases' against 29 colleagues, and later filed another case against 19 colleagues for raising our demands on social media. This is clear fascism. They want to silence every voice. Fellow colleagues, this is the time to unite. Suppressing one will awaken thousands of voices."
The ex-employees and labour activists criticised the company's approach.
Adeeba Zerin Chowdhury said: "In the last 15 years, Grameenphone has systematically violated labour rights, knowing that workers will not get remedy soon and they can delay cases in court by abusing their power. We only sought our rightful dues, yet Grameenphone answered with crackdowns, arrests, and false cases. Now even our voices on social media are silenced. We call upon the Chief Adviser to intervene immediately-this injustice cannot continue."
Maksuda Khatun said: "Grameenphone has filed harassing cases to suppress our rightful movement instead of paying our legally due 5 per cent delay penalty. Using lawsuits to intimidate workers who are claiming their legal rights is never democratic behaviour. It is an injustice against employees."
In response, Grameenphone issued a statement emphasising on its respect for legal processes.
"For the last few months, we have observed that some of Grameenphone's former employees have been running a campaign with certain claims and demands related to their prior employment. To our knowledge, most separated from the company long ago and have received their lawful entitlements. The demands being raised are currently subject to proceedings before the Hon'ble courts, and Grameenphone has high regard for the judicial system. Any legal issues will be resolved through due process. However, it has also come to our attention that these individuals are spreading misleading and defamatory information about Grameenphone, its senior management, and targeted employees in both traditional and social media, for which the company has been compelled to seek appropriate legal recourse."
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