Police use water cannons to disperse protesting ex-Grameenphone employees, 8 detained

Police today (25 February) used water cannons to disperse former Grameenphone employees protesting in front of the telecom operator's headquarters in the capital's Bashundhara.

Eight protesters were also detained from the spot, according to Bhatara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mazarul Islam.

Workers have been holding sit-in programmes in front of GP House in Bashundhara frequently for the past three months to protest against job layoffs, delay in collecting fines from the 5% profit-sharing fund, and deprivation of workers' legitimate rights.

Condemning today's "attack" on protesters, Grameenphone Dismissed and Deprived Workers' Unity Council demanded immediate release of the detained protesters.

In a statement today, the council alleged that at the instigation of Grameenphone authorities, police launched baton charges and used water cannons on protesters. 

Approximately 30 workers were injured, it said.

Meanwhile, in a statement today, Grameenphone said these protesters have been "illegally blocking" the entry and exit ways of GP premises for several days.

Law enforcement agencies deployed themselves around GP premises to protect individuals and property, it said.

"For the last couple of months, some former employees of GP have been gathering in front of the GP House, raising various demands relating to employment and benefits. To our knowledge, most of them separated from Grameenphone a long time ago and have received their lawful entitlements," reads the statement.

"Also, the demands that are being raised by these individuals are currently subject matters of various cases before the courts. Grameenphone has high regard for the judicial system. Therefore, any legal proceedings will eventually be resolved through the court proceedings."