Hundreds of garment workers go on rampage at Tejgaon
Sunday, 23 September 2007
FE Report
Several hundred garment workers went on rampage at the city's Tejgaon industrial area, ransacking a dozen of apparel factories and damaging a good number of motor vehicles.
The unrest spread to the vicinity of the industrial hub and adjoining Mohakhali area, causing a severe traffic jam in Tejgaon and its surrounding areas for several hours.
Over 100 people including four policemen were injured during the incident.
The incident started at 10am when the workers of Nassa Group saw all the four garment units of the group were under lock and key.
Local sources said workers of the Nassa Group staged demonstrations over the past two days demanding Eid-bonus, attendance bonus and increased Iftar and tiffin allowances.
They demanded allocation of Tk 20 instead Tk 5.0 for each worker for tiffin.
The management of the Nassa Group declared the locked-out amid the strike of the workers Saturday. When the news spread, the workers became furious and started demonstration against the management's demonstration.
Around 25,000 employees work at the Nassa Group owned apparel factories.
The demonstrating workers also approached the workers of nearby Shefal Group owned by former BGMEA president Tipu Munshi but the workers of the factory refused to join the demonstration of Nassa Group's workers.
At one stage, the workers of the Shefal Group chased the angry workers of Nassa Group that led to a violent clash between the two groups.
However, the situation restored when the army, rapid action battalion and police were deployed.
Former BGMEA president Tipu Munshi alleged that 81 workers of his factory were injured when they were trying to resist the workers of the Nassa Group.
The angry workers also damaged some vehicles parked in front of the Shefal Group and damaged office equipment, including the PABX phones and computers.
During the pitched battle, workers of the two garment factories chased each other brandishing bamboo sticks and exchanged brickbats leaving more than a 100 people injured.
At one stage, the garment workers torched a vehicle at the city's Nabisco point at about 10 am and damaged a number of private motor vehicles.
They also damaged vehicles at different places in Tejgaon area that created panic in the area.
A serious traffic snarl-up continued until at 2:00 pm at city's different important intersections.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) strongly protested the incident and demanded stern action against those responsible for the unrest.
Addressing a hurriedly called press conference at its office in the afternoon, acting BGMEA President ABM Shamsuddin Ahmed claimed that a vested quarter was instigating violence to destroy the apparel sector.
"Real garment workers are not involved in setting fire and vandalising the garment factories. There has been a vested quarter in guise of labour leaders who instigated the unexpected incident," BGMEA acting president said at the press conference.
He said: "We are noticing that a vested quarter have been trying to tarnish the images of the garments units having good compliance record over the past few years"
The BGMEA acting president also urged the government to conduct a fair investigation and said: If the Nassa is involved in unfair practices, action should be take action against the group," he added.
He urged the government to take action to save the country's largest foreign exchange earning sector.
The BGMEA also claimed that Nassa Group is one of the garments units which had 100 per cent compliance record.
BGMEA leaders said that the workers were refraining from joining at the work place from September 20 and they did not return their job despite the management gave them assurance to raise the allowances from logical point of view.
Managing Director of the Nassa Group Nazrul Islam Swapon at the press conference said that the workers abstained from work despite repeated request from the management to resume work.
He also said Nassa will not afford to pay Tk 300 as attendance fee each month which the workers had been demanding over the past two days.
Nassa Group was paying Tk 100 as attendance allowance each month.
Nassa managing director also said the garment units were put out of operation lawfully as they had failed to solve the issue amicably.
Former BGMEA president Annisul Huq told the reporters that : "we don't give money for Iftar. Rather we give foods and fruits which might be equivalent to Tk 7.0 to Tk 12. So workers' statement on Iftar allowance is not based on fact".
BGMEA directors and other members were also present at the press conference.
Several hundred garment workers went on rampage at the city's Tejgaon industrial area, ransacking a dozen of apparel factories and damaging a good number of motor vehicles.
The unrest spread to the vicinity of the industrial hub and adjoining Mohakhali area, causing a severe traffic jam in Tejgaon and its surrounding areas for several hours.
Over 100 people including four policemen were injured during the incident.
The incident started at 10am when the workers of Nassa Group saw all the four garment units of the group were under lock and key.
Local sources said workers of the Nassa Group staged demonstrations over the past two days demanding Eid-bonus, attendance bonus and increased Iftar and tiffin allowances.
They demanded allocation of Tk 20 instead Tk 5.0 for each worker for tiffin.
The management of the Nassa Group declared the locked-out amid the strike of the workers Saturday. When the news spread, the workers became furious and started demonstration against the management's demonstration.
Around 25,000 employees work at the Nassa Group owned apparel factories.
The demonstrating workers also approached the workers of nearby Shefal Group owned by former BGMEA president Tipu Munshi but the workers of the factory refused to join the demonstration of Nassa Group's workers.
At one stage, the workers of the Shefal Group chased the angry workers of Nassa Group that led to a violent clash between the two groups.
However, the situation restored when the army, rapid action battalion and police were deployed.
Former BGMEA president Tipu Munshi alleged that 81 workers of his factory were injured when they were trying to resist the workers of the Nassa Group.
The angry workers also damaged some vehicles parked in front of the Shefal Group and damaged office equipment, including the PABX phones and computers.
During the pitched battle, workers of the two garment factories chased each other brandishing bamboo sticks and exchanged brickbats leaving more than a 100 people injured.
At one stage, the garment workers torched a vehicle at the city's Nabisco point at about 10 am and damaged a number of private motor vehicles.
They also damaged vehicles at different places in Tejgaon area that created panic in the area.
A serious traffic snarl-up continued until at 2:00 pm at city's different important intersections.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) strongly protested the incident and demanded stern action against those responsible for the unrest.
Addressing a hurriedly called press conference at its office in the afternoon, acting BGMEA President ABM Shamsuddin Ahmed claimed that a vested quarter was instigating violence to destroy the apparel sector.
"Real garment workers are not involved in setting fire and vandalising the garment factories. There has been a vested quarter in guise of labour leaders who instigated the unexpected incident," BGMEA acting president said at the press conference.
He said: "We are noticing that a vested quarter have been trying to tarnish the images of the garments units having good compliance record over the past few years"
The BGMEA acting president also urged the government to conduct a fair investigation and said: If the Nassa is involved in unfair practices, action should be take action against the group," he added.
He urged the government to take action to save the country's largest foreign exchange earning sector.
The BGMEA also claimed that Nassa Group is one of the garments units which had 100 per cent compliance record.
BGMEA leaders said that the workers were refraining from joining at the work place from September 20 and they did not return their job despite the management gave them assurance to raise the allowances from logical point of view.
Managing Director of the Nassa Group Nazrul Islam Swapon at the press conference said that the workers abstained from work despite repeated request from the management to resume work.
He also said Nassa will not afford to pay Tk 300 as attendance fee each month which the workers had been demanding over the past two days.
Nassa Group was paying Tk 100 as attendance allowance each month.
Nassa managing director also said the garment units were put out of operation lawfully as they had failed to solve the issue amicably.
Former BGMEA president Annisul Huq told the reporters that : "we don't give money for Iftar. Rather we give foods and fruits which might be equivalent to Tk 7.0 to Tk 12. So workers' statement on Iftar allowance is not based on fact".
BGMEA directors and other members were also present at the press conference.