RMG trade union seeks case withdrawal against leader

The Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation has demanded withdrawal of the case filed against the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation Babul Akter.

Denouncing the case against the workers’ leader, Md Towhidur Rahman and Tahmina Rahman, president and secretary of Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation (BAWF) respectively, made the demand through a press release issued on August 9.

“With deep concern we have observed that a Sub-Inspector (SI) of Tongi West police station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police filed a case against Babul Akter. We strongly condemn the police move,” wrote on the release.

“We are following that whenever workers stage protest demanding their lawful rights, cases are filed against our leaders by the industrial police, said the press release adding that it goes against spirit of trade union,” 

They attributed the owner-appeasing policy of some of the police officers to the cause workers’ unrest. If the authority does not withdraw this case, we, banding with different workers’ organisations, will raise the issue at

national and international levels to solve this problem, according the press release.

Earlier on August 5, workers of the Crossline Factory at Tongi, Gazipur staged a demonstration and pelted stones at the factory in protest at the termination of 17 fellow workers.

The factory owners and the police claimed at the instigation of Babul Akter, the workers demonstrated in front of Crossline Factory on August 5 and a case was filed with the Tongi west police the next day.

However, Babul Akter claimed he is innocent.

“The police inspector intentionally framed me in the case,” he said.