The agitating workers of readymade garment factories in Ashulia are yet to return to work flouting the promise they made on Wednesday while calling off their demonstration demanding a new minimum monthly wage.The workers have made commitments several times in different meetings with business leaders and ministers to return work, but they aren’t keeping their promises.Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Thursday said, “They made a promise to join work from Tuesday, but they didn’t do so.”“They have broken their promises,” he said while inaugurating “Digital IT Fair-2016” as the chief guest. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Siddiqur Rahman told daily sun, “At least 85 factories were closed due to the ‘illegal’ strike in the units where more than 2.5 lakh workers are employed. The RMG sector would incur a loss of Tk 70-80 crore per day due to the closure of the factories.”Siddiqur fears the ongoing work abstention would force many garment owners to make costly air shipment to meet the delivery deadlines and offer discounts.“In some cases, this disruption will result in cancellation of orders,” he added.He also said that they are very cordial to reopen the closed factories if the workers of any closed factory would contact with the floor-in-charge of production manager and promise to return to work.Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League (BNGWEL) President Sirajul Islam Rony told daily sun that they were trying to make the workers return to work.Apparel workers in the industrial belt have been demonstrating since December 11, demanding a new monthly minimum wage of Tk 16,000.On Thursday, Fountain Garment Limited suspended 135 workers for their involvement with vandalism, the factory’s Production In-charge Sumon Hasan informed, adding that, more workers will be fired after examining the CCTV footages.The factory authorities also filed a case with Ashulia police over the unrest, naming 18 employees and 80 unnamed others, confirmed Mostafizur Rahman, Director of Ashulia Industrial Police.On Wednesday, Windy Apparels Ltd and Fountain Garments Manufacturing Ltd filed two cases against 249 workers for ‘provocation and creating disruptions’ and suspended 121 workers.Police have detained ‘Masud’ and ‘Baker’ from Jamgora area and seven more in the cases. Seven of the detained have been identified as Shoumitro Kumar Das, president of Garment Sramik Front Savar-Ashulia-Dhamrai Regional Committee, Garment and Industry Sramik Federation President Rafiqul Islam, Shwadhin Bangla Garment Sramik Federation Savar-Ashulia-Dhamrai Regional Committee President Al-Kamran and its General Secretary Shakil, Bangladesh Trinomul Garment Sramik-Kormochari Federation President Shamim Khan, Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity Coordinator (Ashulia) Mohammad Ibrahim and Textile Workers Federation Mohammad Mizan.Meanwhile, police on Thursday detained Savar Upazila Vice-chairman Mili Akter Urmee for her alleged involvement with inciting the agitating workers.Superintendent of Dhaka District Police Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman said, “Mili was produced before the court at 5:00pm.”Earlier, the Detective Branch (DB) of Police picked up Labor Leader Mushrefa Mishu into its custody on her way to attend a press briefing over the incident of labour unrest at Ashulia.She was intercepted at Topkhana Road in Paltan area around 10:45am and sent back to home in the afternoon, said DB officials.The law enforcers intensified patrols in Ashulia. Patrols of the local police, Industrial Police, Armed Police Battalion as well as the BGB were found frequenting the zone. Law enforcers were found urging workers not to stage any kind of demonstration and warned them of ‘consequences’.
