Fifteen eminent citizens of the country yesterday issued a statement condemning the ongoing harassment of Ashulia garment workers at the hands of owners, law enforcers and government organisations. Expressing concern over the ongoing spree of arrest, remand, job termination and filing of fake cases against workers, they urged the government and other stakeholders to take steps to resolve the crisis. Around 1500 workers have been sacked and dozens arrested since all the garment factories of Ashulia reopened more than a week ago; following a 5-day closure imposed by owners as the workers went for work abstention demanding wage hike. The eminent citizens signed the statement on behalf of 15 prominent non-government organisations including Workers’ Safety Forum. In the statement, they urged the government, garment factory owners, BGMEA and law enforcers to resolve the problem following the directives of Labor Law and alternative dispute resolution, discussing with the workers and their leaders. Besides, they demanded immediate release of arrested trade union leaders, reinstating terminated workers, and withdrawal of the cases to bring peaceful environment in the factories. “We think that an international and sensitive industry like the RMG needs to keep a peaceful environment by resolving the workers’ unrest, the statement read. The personalities strongly demanded to take steps to ensure human rights of the workers by resolving crisis following discussion with the workers and stakeholders. Dr Hamida Hossain of Workers’ Safety Forum; Adv Sultana Kamal, chairman, TIB; Adv Salma Ali, ED, Jatiya Mahila Ainjibi Samity; Khushi Kabir, coordinator, Nijera Kori; Farah Kabir, country director of Action Aid; Rehaman Samdani Kona, president of Naripokkho; Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, ED, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies; Rokeya Kabir, ED of Nari Pragati Sangho and Barrister Sara Hossain, honorary ED of BELA were, among others, the signatories of the statement.
