Ctg RMG workers paid arrears after demo

Workers of two readymade garment factories in Chattogram ended their demonstration yesterday around 15 hours after the authorities began paying due salaries.

The move came after around 7,000 RMG workers ransacked and locked up Legacy Fashion Ltd and Anwara Fashion Ltd in the port city’s Kalurghat Industrial Area on Thursday night, demanding salaries of one month.

The authorities decided to pay the salaries yesterday noon, Meher Osim Das, sub-inspector (SI) of Chandgaon Police Station, who was overseeing the situation, told The Daily Star.

Earlier in the day, thousands of agitating workers were seen taking position inside the factories, windows of which were broken.

SI Osim Das said police officials held a meeting with the factory authorities who later agreed to pay the salaries to appease the workers.

Nazma Begum, a worker of Legacy Fashion, was seen coming out of the factory with a happy face. ‘They paid festival bonuses on August 6 and assured of paying the salaries on Thursday. We were furious when they offered us just the basic salaries, triggering the demonstration,” she said.

“Now they paid us the full salaries,” she said, adding that she will be able to go to her village to celebrate Eid.

When this correspondent tried to talk to the factory authorities, they declined to make any comment.