Tuba workers protest demanding outstanding salary, bonuses

Several hundred ready-made garment workers of a Tuba Group factory have protested in front of the BGMEA Bhaban in Dhaka demanding outstanding salary and festival bonuses.
But the owner, Delwar Hossain, claims he does not have enough money to pay the workers even though several of his other factories are running.
Hossain was in jail after a fire in his Tazreen Fashions Limited factory killed over 110 workers two years ago.
He walked out of jail before the Eid, amid the worker unrest, on condition that he would pay up the workers. However, the factories are yet to resume operations and the workers are yet to receive their overdue.
Workers at five of his factories did not receive salaries and bonuses before the Eid-ul-Azha.
Bangladesh is the second largest exporter of RMG products after China. Mainly cheap labour has made the South Asian country an attractive destination for buyers. The sector accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the country’s export income.
The BGMEA had to step in when over 1,500 workers of these five factories in Dhaka’s Badda locality went on an indefinite hunger strike before last Eid.
Accompanied by leaders of workers’ organisations, agitated workers took position in front of the BGMEA Bhaban Saturday, two days before the Eid-ul-Azha, demanding outstanding dues.