RMG workers still fearful of dismissal; security heightened in Ashulia

RMG workers still fearful of dismissal; security heightened in Ashulia

Amid deployment of a large number of law enforcers following eight days of unrest in the RMG sector, workers, in larger numbers than yesterday, were seen filing into work in Ashulia.

The number of workers returning to work today was significantly higher than that of yesterday, reports our Savar correspondent.

Members of law enforcing agencies were seen at different point of Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, in the morning.

Despite a large number of them showing up at work today, there was still fear of reprisal amongst many of them, the correspondent said.

A total of 287 RMG workers of Metro Knitting and Dyeing Mills Ltd Factory 2 were dismissed yesterday, Atiqul Islam, general manager (corporate) of the factory, told the correspondent today.

The workers were given wages of 45 days before their dismissal, Atiqul said.

They were dismissed on the condition that the cases filed against them over the recent RMG workers’ agitation would be withdrawn, said Al Kamran, a workers’ leader of Shadhin Bangla Garments Worker Employee Federation.

However, the cases were not withdrawn till last night, the correspondent confirmed.

The worker leaders have disapproved of this dismissal and one of the leaders wishing anonymity said “it would be better to terminate the workers, because in that case they will get two months wages. But this dismissal and suspension is very harmful for the workers.”

mj/