The workers of the Taratex BD Ltd factory in Gazipur’s Tongi area staged a peaceful protest demanding the removal of the general manager (GM) and production manager of the factory Monday morning.
They stayed in front of the main gate of the factory for four hours on Monday from 8:00am to 12:00pm. Previously on Saturday and Sunday, the workers observed a peaceful strike inside the factory.
Operators of the swing branch of the factory, Bristhi Akhtar, Rozina Begum, and Shefali Akhtar, demanded the dismissal of Production Manager Zahid Ahsan. They accused Zahid of sexually harassing the female workers.
According to them, Zahid would file complaints against the female workers who did not comply with demands and get them fired.
Rasel Miah, an operator at the swing branch of the factory, said they have made multiple complaints against Zahid’s misconduct but GM Mohsin ignored the issue.
“On the contrary, the complainant workers were fired immediately. Moreover, many workers who have been in service for a long time were dismissed without any reason and without any prior notice,” Rasel alleged, adding that many were threatened with bodily harm if they protested.
According to the factory workers, they went to find a notice of closure in front of the main gate of the factory on Monday so they decided to hold a peaceful protest in front of the building.
They raised slogans in demand of the GM and PM’s removal. On receiving the information, Tongi Industrial Area police went to the spot and had a discussion with the workers to leave the area.
According to the notice of closure, on Saturday a number of agitated workers incited a protest and stopped production. On Sunday the workers blockaded the factory management authority and the police had to get involved and rescue them.
When contacted the GM did not pick up his phone. Inspector Osman Gani of Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Tongi Zone said the workers are demanding the immediate removal of some of the officials.
