Workers continue demonstrations for arrear salary, Eid bonus  

Workers and employees of different garment factories in Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram staged demonstrations on Thursday demanding due salaries and bonus.

Production at some of the factories halted because of the demonstrations.

Workers at factories of other industries like ceramic, cable, fan, steel and rerolling mills also demonstrated for similar demands.

Data from Industrial Police show that as of Thursday, some 2,995 factories have not paid the salary for April. And the workers of some 5,825 factories have not yet received their Eid bonus.

Workers from at least 20 factories demonstrated in Gazipur, according to the Industrial Police.

The factories include Florent Limited of Gacha area, Classic Fashion Concept of Tongi, National Fan Limited in Tongi, Golden Trade in Mastarbari area, Keya Knit Composite in Kona Bari, and Delta Group in Kashimpur.

Further, workers from other factories demonstrated on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka- Tangail highways.

Some of the factories also have not paid the salary for March and April.

Sources from the Industrial Police said workers of Tushar Line industry staged demonstration in Ghosh Bagh area in Ashulia.

The workers were told that their bonus would be paid after 5pm because of bank issues. So, they demonstrated at the entrance to the factory.

Workers of Bashundhara Garments demonstrated in Nazimnagar area of Savar. Besides, the workers of Combine Tex, in Kathgara of Ashulia, also staged demonstrations for their salary and bonus.

Meanwhile, the managing director of the factory went into hiding without paying the salary and bonus.

Demonstrations also took place in Chara Bagh, Gazir Chat, Bhagalpur in Ashulia and Savar areas.

Around 8,000 workers of Sinha Group demonstrated in Kanchpur of Narayanganj. They tried to block the Dhaka-Sylhet highway.

Workers of New Cecily Skin Print in Siddhirganj, Monowara Mark Dresses and Cotton Power Limited in Panchabati of Fatullah also demonstrated demanding their arrears.

Later, they gathered at Chashara Shaheed Minar and continued demonstrations.

In Chattogram Export Processing Zone, the workers of ATS Paal Limited and Amwara Make Dresses staged a protest programme.

"We tried to communicate with some of the factory owners on Thursday. But we could not reach them. Police brought the situation under control," said Mohammad Amzad Hossain, police superintendent of Industrial Police headquarters.

According to Industrial Police sources, around 7,602 factories are operational in six industrial zones. Some 4,607 factories have paid wages to their workers for April. About 2,995 factories have not paid salary for April.

Among 7,602 factories, only 1,777 have paid bonus to their employees.

Among 1,882 factories which are members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, only 368 have cleared Eid bonus. Of the 1,101 factories that belong to the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, only 118 have paid the bonus.