RMG workers demonstrate for factory to reopen, arrears in Savar

Workers of a readymade garment factory in Savar today demonstrated, demanding to reopen their factory and salary for June.

Over two thousand workers of Dipta Apparels Ltd in Savar's Shampur area started their demonstration in front of the factory gate after blocking a local road around 10:00am.

They continued the demonstration till 2:30pm, our Savar correspondent reports quoting police and the agitating workers.

The demonstrating workers said the authority on July 1 declared the factory closed for three days due to electricity line being cut off. On July 3, the authority further declared it closed till July 11 showing the same reason. The factory was supposed to open today.

"As we came to the factory today to join work, we found another notice on factory gate saying the factory has been closed for indefinite period due to the same problem," said Jahirul Islam, a worker of the factory.

The authorities have shut down the factory without paying their last month's salary, he said.

The workers took to the street demanding reopening the factory and last month's salary, he said, adding that they also demanded Eid bonus and current month's salary before Eid-ul-Azha.

Rafiqul Islam Sujon, president of Bangladesh Garments and Shilpa Sramik Federation said, workers are worried about their jobs as the factory authority declared the factory closed for indefinite period.

Kabir Hossain, vice president of National Garment Workers' Federation, said "Factory authority told us that workers' salary will be paid very soon and it will be reopened by next Sunday."

However, this correspondent could not reach Lokman Hossen, production manager of the factory, despite repeated phone calls.

Contacted, Arif Hossen, assistant superintendent of police of Dhaka Industrial Police-1, said the factory had less work for the last couple of months, and there are problems with electricity and gas supply at the factory.