RMG workers block road demanding arrears

Demanding arrears before Eid-ul-Fitr, workers of a garment factory blocked Mirpur Road in the capital's Kalyanpur area yesterday, causing traffic disruption for an hour.

Around 250 workers of Monde Apparels Ltd took to the street around 2:00pm after they found their factory shut, witnesses said.

The factory authorities promised the workers to pay their three-month arrear salaries yesterday, agitated workers said.

Earlier, the authorities changed the payment date thrice -- June 15, 20 and 23, another worker alleged.

The factory officials had been telling them since morning that Managing Director Noor-E-Alam Siddique Jugol was coming with the money but he did not come till noon, said Shapla Begum, a worker.

“My husband is waiting for me with bus tickets to go Nilphamari and we were supposed to start journey with Eid gifts for my two kids…,” she said.

Around 3:10pm, vehicles started plying after law enforcers took them to a nearby place, police said.

Due to the traffic disruption, a long tailback took place on the road towards Gabtoli, Selim Uzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Darussalam Police Station, told The Daily Star.

This correspondent visited the garment factory to meet the officials yesterday afternoon but it was found locked from outside.

Even after repeated attempts, MD Noor-E-Alam could not be contacted as he did not pick up the phone.

Siddiqur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said they have already sent their officials to find the MD to settle the matter.