Garment workers protest in Rampura

Traffic was disrupted for more than an hour due to protests and road blockades by the sacked workers in the capital's Rampura.

Workers of a garment factory took a position in front of the Bangladesh Television (BTV) building on Monday (June 8) afternoon in protest against being fired without any announcement.
It is known that hundreds of workers of a garment factory named 'Texas Dresses Limited' participated in the program. Due to their location, traffic on one side of the Malibagh-Rampura-Bada road was completely blocked. This caused long traffic jams in intense heat and common commuters and pedestrians suffered.

The agitating workers alleged that the factory authorities fired 147 workers without following the labor laws. Also rules like payment of dues or giving prior notice were not followed. Due to this, they claimed that they were forced to come down on the road.

The workers presented five-point demands including reinstatement. Their main demands include reinstatement of retrenched workers, cessation of harassment, normal operation of factories, ensuring safe working environment and guarantee of job stability.

Harun Or Rashid, Deputy Police Commissioner of Motijheel Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said that they have been removed from the road after discussing with the workers. Later their representatives went to the labor department for discussion.

He also said that traffic was stopped for about an hour due to the blockade. But at present the situation is normal and traffic flow is normal on Rampura road.