Garment Trade Union Centre demands release of its leader

Garments Trade Union Centre today held demonstration in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka demanding release of their general secretary and six others immediately, who were sent to jail yesterday in a case filed over assaulting officials and employees of BGMEA in January.

The trade union members held a protest rally with their vice president Ziaul Kabir Khokon in the chair. Its president Montu Ghosh and other leaders were also present there.

They alleged that their leaders were sent to jail following the "instigation" of the government and the BGMEA when they were waging movement demanding Tk16,000 as minimum wage for garments workers.

Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Md MazharulHaqueyesterday sent the seven peopleto jail after rejecting their bail in the case. It, however, granted bail to its presidentMontu Ghosh.

The accused are: GTUC General Secretary Jolly Talukder, Organizing Secretary KM Mintu, International Secretary MonjuMoin, Bangladesh Communist Party (CPB) Central Committee Member Sajedur Rahman Shamim,GTUC Gazipur District Unit General Secretary Jalal Howlader, Savar-Ashulia unit Lutfor Rahman and its Central Committee Member Mohammad Shahjahan.

On January 31, Major (retd) Rafiqul Islam, additional secretary (administration) of BGMEA, filed the attempt to murder case against 12 people with Ramna Police Station.