Unpaid Tuba workers clubbed, tear-gassed

Police have driven hunger-striking garment workers out of Badda’s Hossain Market where five readymade garment (RMG) units of Tuba Group are located. Witnesses said cops stormed into Tuba’s five garment factories on Thursday afternoon when most of the workers were out to collect dues at BGMEA Bhaban in Karwan Bazar. The workers had been observing fast-unto-death for the last 10 days to get the Tuba management to pay them three months’ arrear salaries, overtime and Eid bonus. Workers alleged police lobbed teargas canisters and charged batons on the hunger-striking labour leaders and workers to drive them out of the factories. Workers at the five Tuba factories at Uttar Badda went on an indefinite hunger strike on July 28 and were joined by a number of labour organisations. As Tuba owner Delwar Hossain was in jail in a case over the death of over 110 workers at his Tazreen Fashions in 2012, the BGMEA offered the workers 2 months’ salaries. The workers rejected it and pressed on with their demand. But after Thursday’s eviction, many protestors, some of them wounded, thronged the BGMEA Bhaban to collect salaries. The BGMEA on Thursday evening claimed 1,305 out of 1,458 Tuba workers had taken salaries from them. Most of the workers said they had no choice but to accept the offer as they ran out of money, according to a news agency.