Assault of Workers: RMG workers vandalise 3 factories

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Agitated garment workers yesterday vandalised three factories belonging to Alana Group and damaged at least 15 vehicles at Pallabi in the capital.

Witnesses said several hundred workers of Tunic Apparels near Purabi Cinema went berserk at around 3:30pm after the factory staff beat up six workers staging a demonstration inside the factory demanding increased salary and payment of last month’s salary.

A worker, Abul Kalam Azad, said the workers became infuriated after the staff beat up six of the agitating workers mercilessly as they tried to go to the sixth floor of the factory to place their demands to the authorities.

The injured workers are Rakib, Noor Islam, Shahidul, Babu, Sajib and Rafiq, the workers said.

Following the incident, the workers vandalised the factory. They also attacked Civic Fashion Limited — another factory under Alana Group.

The workers later brought out a procession on the road near Purabi Cinema and vandalised vehicles passing by as well as two parked pick-up vans at a stand nearby prompting transport workers and locals to chase them away.

Workers of a third factory under Alana Group, AQM Apparels, vandalised the factory after receiving the news of attack on workers at Tunic Apparels.

The workers said as per the new wage board, the owners have to increase the salary by 25 percent and their owner has already announced a 10 percent increase. They alleged that some of the officials and staff were disbursing only 5 percent increased salary to the workers.

General Manager (Administration) of Tunic Apparels Maj (retd) Sheikh Liaqat Hossain denied assault on any worker and said his factory has increased 10 percent salary to the workers who have been employed there for a long period of time as their owner had committed.

“We did not increase salary of those who joined only one or two months back,” he said, adding that a few troublemakers vandalised the factories.

President of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association SM Fazlul Hoque said it is not mandatory for the owners to pay salary as per the new wage board for garments workers as it still needs to complete some more procedures and formalities.

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