The workers of an apparel factory located in Bangladesh Tea Board area under city’s Bayezid police station yesterday took to the streets and put on a barricade demanding payment of salary arrears. The vehicular movement on Bayezid Bostami Road was suspended for half an hour due to the blockade by the workers of Ceaser Apparels Ltd that caused immense sufferings to commuters. “About 500 workers belonging to Ceaser Apparels Ltd took to the streets at around 2:30pm and agitated for payment of outstanding salary. The workers also blockaded the road for half an hour,” said Arifur Rahman, Inspector (Intelligence) of Chittagong Industrial Police. “The agitating apparel workers agreed to withdraw the blockade as the factory owner assured them of paying off all dues within today (Sunday),” the Inspector added. It may be mentioned that leaders of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association at a meeting with the State Minister for Labour and Employment M Mujibul Haque on July 2 said the factory authorities would pay workers wages within July 10 and festival allowances by July 14 before Eid-ul-Fitr. The agitating garment workers alleged that the factory authorities were delaying to clear the salary arrears. The workers also accused that they came under physical assault from the factory officials when they tried to talk to them in this regard. Contacted, Monju, Head of Department of Human Resource (Administration) of Ceaser Apparels Ltd, told The Independent, “We always try to pay salary and other allowances on time. As the banks were closed we could not pay off the salaries yesterday (Saturday).” “Despite committing to pay the salaries within Sunday, the workers blockaded the road. We suspect that some outsiders provoked them to create unrest”, Monju claimed.
