RMG workers block key road in Ctg over May dues
The demonstration began outside the Chattogram BEPZA zone office in the morning and later escalated to a road blockade, brought traffic to a halt along the critical Agrabad-Patenga industrial corridor
Around 250 workers of Thianis Apparels Ltd staged a protest today (7 July) at the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ), blocking the Free Port intersection to demand overdue wages for May of this year.
The demonstration, which began outside the BEPZA zone office in the morning and later escalated to a road blockade, brought traffic to a halt along the critical Agrabad-Patenga industrial corridor.
A significant number of employees joined the protest.
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After the protests started, BEPZA authorities assured the workers that discussions regarding payment would take place on Thursday (July 10).
However, the protestors refused to accept the delay and moved to the Free Port intersection. As of 6: 45 today, the protestors have been staying on.
"Negotiations are ongoing," said Abdus Sobhan, executive director of CEPZ.
Thianis Apparels Ltd Managing Director Anisur Rahman Khan told The Business Standard, "The company has been unable to clear workers' wages because BEPZA has suspended its export permissions.
"A large consignment is ready for shipment. We will be able to clear all outstanding wages if we are allowed to export," he said.
"But BEPZA is not permitting it. which is causing repeated unrests," he alleged.
This is not the first instance of such unrest at Thianis Apparels.
Earlier, from June 16 to June 18, workers staged a sit-in protest demanding their unpaid wages. On June 26, they blocked the CEPZ's main gate for over eight hours.
According to Industrial Police, the officials of Thianis Apparels had previously committed to clearing the dues by June 26. When they failed to do so, they made promises again to make the payments on July 2.
The factory owners have still not paid the workers citing financial constraints.
BEPZA officials informed The Business Standard that Thianis Apparels currently has no active work orders. The factory owes BEPZA Tk 28 crore and the Customs Department approximately Tk 55 crore in addition to the unpaid dues.
Due to this mounting financial and operational crises, BEPZA has suspended the factory's import and export permission while the workers are now urging BEPZA to directly intervene and ensure immediate payments.
Jashim Uddin, assistant superintendent of industrial Police, confirmed TBS, "Discussions between the workers, BEPZA officials, and the Industrial Police are ongoing.
"Heavy security has been deployed in the EPZ zone to avoid any untoward incidents. Patrols by the Bangladesh Army and the Navy have been observed, along with a presence from EPZ Thana, and BEPZA's own security personnel."
"The workers moved from the main road at around 4pm and are now staging demonstrations blocking the main gate of CEPZ", he added.
