Several hundred workers of a sweater factory at Ghosbagh of Ashulia, on the outskirt of the capital, demonstrated on Wednesday, protesting against termination of their fellow workers. The authority of Sonia and Sweaters Ltd, a concern of Sonia Group, had allegedly terminated over 300 workers of the factory as they demonstrated to realise their nine-point demand, before Eid-ul Azha vacation, workers said. They said the demands included payment of basic salary according to law during no-work period, Eid bonus, production bonus and realising some other benefits. After Eid, the factory management terminated the workers by a spoken order on Monday without laying off the factory. Witnesses said several hundred workers of the factory also hold a human chain in front of the Ashulia press club, demanding job reinstatement. The workers warned of tougher movement if they were not reinstated. The workers alleged that the owner of the factory, Mahbubur Rahman, was harassing them in their houses by sending local goons. The goons warned the workers not to agitate and advised them to seek job somewhere else. Mahbub did not receive any phone call despite several attempts by New Age. The director of Ashulia industrial police, Md Mustafizur Rahman, told New Age that the sweater factory did not have enough work orders at this moment and that was why they terminated the labourers. Meanwhile, the management of Rock Knitwear Garments Ltd at Doshaid area of Ashulia on Monday declared their unit shut for an unidentified period. The workers said the factory authority did not pay any benefits to them but abruptly closed the factory for an indefinite period. The workers demonstrated in front of the factory for the second consecutive day, on Wednesday. They demanded resumption of the factory or paying their benefits as per law. Mustafizur Rahman said to avoid any untoward incident, they deployed additional policemen at the factory premises and asked both the workers and the authority to settle the dispute.
