Desk Report,
Protest in Gazipur demanding reinstatement of laid-off workers and resignation of two officials
Workers of a ready-made garment factory in Kaliakoir, Gazipur, have staged a protest demanding the reinstatement of 17 laid-off workers and the resignation of two factory officials. The protest began at around 8 am on Saturday at a factory named Southern Knitwear Limited in the Baraichuti area of the upazila.
Protest in Gazipur demanding reinstatement of laid-off workers and resignation of two officials
According to police and some factory workers, various programs, including protests to realize the demands of the workers, are held at the Southern Knitwear Limited factory at different times. The factory authorities recently prepared a list of the workers who led these movements. After the holiday last Thursday, notices of layoffs for 17 workers were hung at the main gate of the factory. The factory was closed the next day, Friday. This Saturday morning, the workers came to know about the layoffs of 17 workers when they joined work. Later, they started a strike at around 8 am.
At one stage, the workers took a position inside the factory and started the protest. At that time, the workers demanded the reinstatement of the laid-off workers and the resignation of the factory’s General Manager (GM) Nurul Islam and Deputy General Manager (DGM) Mizanur Rahman. Upon receiving the news, members of the Gazipur Industrial Police, Kaliakair Police Station and law enforcement agencies tried to control the workers by convincing them. However, the workers’ protest was going on until the last news was received at 10 pm. A worker named Farhan Ahmed said that the illegal layoff of 17 workers is against the labor law. They protested at different times to realize the demands of the factory workers, but they did not cause any damage. Protests and peaceful programs were held to realize their just demands.
Kaliakair Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdul Mannan said that efforts are being made to resolve the issue by discussing with the workers.
