http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=35397
Daily Star, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Published On: 2008-05-07
Ctg RMG workers on pay-hike riot - 50 vehicles damaged, shops looted
Workers of three garment factories of Azim Group take to the street in
Kalurghat BSCIC Industrial Area of Chittagong yesterday demanding an
increase in their wages and allowances.
Agitated workers of three garment factories yesterday went on the
rampage and vandalised over 50 vehicles in Kalurghat BSCIC Industrial
Area demanding an increase in their allowances.
Hundreds of workers of Orchid Sweater Ltd, Global Specialised Garments
Ltd (unit-1) and Savar Sweater Ltd, all conglomerates of Azim Group,
took to the street for an increase in their share of piece-rate on
each garment product and breakfast allowance.
Witnesses said the unruly workers vandalised buses, trucks, private
cars, microbuses, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, mugged commuters, looted a
sweetmeat and a fruit shops, and damaged windowpanes of the oven
division office of Azim Group.
The witnesses said law enforcers refrained from taking action during
the rampage that lasted around five hours on the roads stretching from
Kalurghat BSCIC Area to Bohaddarhat intersection.
A tripartite meeting between representatives of Bangladesh Garments
Manufacturers and Ex****ters Association (BGMEA), Azim Group and the
workers later took a decision in favour of the demands, bringing the
situation under control.
Sources said yesterday's incident was a sequel to a strife and heated
altercation between a section of the workers and management of the
factories the previous afternoon over the same demands.
The workers alleged the management suddenly cut Tk 10 from Tk 34 of
the piece-rate. They met the management on Monday and placed their
demands, but the management refused to accept those, said the sources.
At one stage, the workers became angry and swooped on some officials
and staffs of the three factories.
Following the incident, the management of Azim Group shut down the
three units for indefinite period. When the workers found the
factories closed yesterday morning, they went berserk.
A force from Chandgaon Police Station rushed to the scene but remained
"inactive" during the agitation.
"I was astonished to see that the workers continued attacks on our
factories in presence of a large number of cops," said Anup Kumar Das,
general manager of Azim Group.
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