Cops arrest garment union leader in Gazipur
Saturday, 26 June 2010
FE Report
Police arrested Friday a top union leader from a rally in Gazipur as she railed against low wages of apparel and textiles workers.
Musharefa Mishu, president of Garment Workers Unity Forum, was arrested at about 4:00pm at Chandana intersection in Gazipur on charges of addressing an "unauthorised" gathering, Officer-in-Charge of Joydevpur police station Abdur Rashid said.
Mr. Rashid said the rally was organised without obtaining prior permission from the authority. Four other trade union leaders were also detained during the hunt.
An activist of the association said Mishu went to attend the rally as part of the organisation's nationwide movement for better payment and working condition in the apparel industry.
The association has been campaigning to press home a number of demands, including minimum monthly wage of Tk. 5,000 for garment workers.
Unions called the police arrest "unacceptable" and feared that it could invite more labour unrest, which rocked the country's main apparel hub outside the capital last week.
They also said the repressive action was designed to sidetrack what they termed "legitimate" demand of millions of workers who staff the country's 4500 ready-made garment units.
A leader of garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra told the FE the arrest may encourage the workers to launch a large-scale movement. "She (Mishu) should be released immediately," said the leader who wished not be named.
Police arrested Friday a top union leader from a rally in Gazipur as she railed against low wages of apparel and textiles workers.
Musharefa Mishu, president of Garment Workers Unity Forum, was arrested at about 4:00pm at Chandana intersection in Gazipur on charges of addressing an "unauthorised" gathering, Officer-in-Charge of Joydevpur police station Abdur Rashid said.
Mr. Rashid said the rally was organised without obtaining prior permission from the authority. Four other trade union leaders were also detained during the hunt.
An activist of the association said Mishu went to attend the rally as part of the organisation's nationwide movement for better payment and working condition in the apparel industry.
The association has been campaigning to press home a number of demands, including minimum monthly wage of Tk. 5,000 for garment workers.
Unions called the police arrest "unacceptable" and feared that it could invite more labour unrest, which rocked the country's main apparel hub outside the capital last week.
They also said the repressive action was designed to sidetrack what they termed "legitimate" demand of millions of workers who staff the country's 4500 ready-made garment units.
A leader of garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra told the FE the arrest may encourage the workers to launch a large-scale movement. "She (Mishu) should be released immediately," said the leader who wished not be named.