Workers of Ananta Jalil’s RMG factories again block Savar road demanding unpaid wages

Workers from four RMG factories of the AJI Group, owned by film actor Ananta Jalil, blocked a road at Hemayetpur of Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka, demanding payment of wages for October.

Over a thousand workers from four factories began the protest by blocking the Hemayetpur-Singair road in front of the AJI Group Industrial Park at about 7:30pm today (14 November), locals said.

The protesting workers said the management had earlier informed them that their wages for October would be paid on 14 November. However, the workers were not satisfied with the announcement and began a road blockade in protest on Wednesday. In response, the group's chairman, Ananta Jalil, talked to the workers and assured them that they would receive their wages on the day.

Although the workers lifted the blockade at one stage, their wages were not paid as promised.

On Thursday, around noon, a section of the workers received their wages via Rocket (mobile financial service) accounts. Frustrated, other workers began protesting in front of the factory after their shift ended at 7pm. 

A worker, who preferred not to be named, told TBS, "Although some workers were paid today, many still have not received their wages. For instance, in a line of 40 workers, only 15 to 20 have been paid, while the rest have not. This is why the workers are staging a protest."

Superintendent of Industrial Police-1 Md Sarwar Alam told TBS that although most of the workers received their wages today, some 400-500 remained left out. "Discussions are ongoing, and we are working to resolve the issue," he said at about 8pm today.

When TBS called to contact Ananta Jalil regarding the salary payments, he initially reacted with arrogance, questioning why the journalists kept calling him. "Just because I'm available to receive calls, journalists think they can keep bothering me any time," he yelled.

However, a few minutes later, he called back, and said payments to around 300-400 workers out of 10,000 got delayed due to technical issues. Rocket representatives assured that the payments would be completed by midnight today, he added.

Jalil further said an army team reached the site at about 9pm, instructing workers to enter the factory premises with their ID cards to receive wages in cash. "At that time, approximately 90 workers were present, while the rest disappeared," he said.

The AJI Group chairman said he sensed that many outsiders were involved in the protest as only a few were available to receive the wages in cash.