Shipbreaking workers demand wages, Eid bonuses by 25th Ramadan

Shipbreaking workers in Chattogram have called for the payment of their full March wages and Eid-ul-Fitr bonuses by the 25th of Ramadan, warning of further protests if their demands are not met.

The workers, under the banner of the Shipbreaking Workers' Trade Union Forum, staged a human chain and rally this morning (21 March) outside the Chattogram Press Club.

The event was led by Tapan Dutta, the forum's convener and a member of the Labour Reform Commission, while Fazlul Kabir Mintu, the forum's member secretary, served as the moderator.

Speakers at the rally included AM Nazim Uddin, joint convener of the forum and president of the Chattogram divisional unit of Sramik Dal; SM Jamal Uddin, organising secretary of Sramik Dal; Advocate Zahir Uddin Mahmud, convener of the Shipbreaking Workers' Safety Committee; Md Ali, joint secretary of the Bangladesh Metal Workers Federation; and Rizwanur Rahman Khan, treasurer of the Shipbreaking Workers' Trade Union Forum, among others.

The workers argued that, under Section 111(5) of the Bangladesh Labour Law, they are legally entitled to receive their March wages and a festival bonus equivalent to their basic salary before the 25th of Ramadan.

They urged shipbreaking yard owners to comply with the law and called on the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) to enforce payment.

At the rally, speakers emphasised that the wages workers receive are insufficient to meet their basic needs, making the Eid bonus crucial for covering additional expenses during the festival period. 

They asserted that the bonus is a legal right rather than an act of generosity, and failure to provide it would exacerbate workers' financial hardships.

The rally concluded with a warning that if their demands are not met promptly, they will intensify their agitation.