Worker leader threatens to resume protests

Leader of Garments Workers Unity Forum, a trade union in the apparel sector, yesterday threatened to relaunch protests unless the Tub Group workers get their festival bonuses soon.
Moshrefa Mishu, president of the Forum, also demanded cancellation of the bail to Delwar Hossain, managing director of Tuba Group.
Mishu alleged that the police oppressed the Tuba workers who were on hunger strike to realise their three months' arrears and Eid bonus.
“If our six-point demands are not met by August 16, we will demonstrate at Shahbagh on August 17 and hold a workers' gathering at Badda on the following day,” she said at a press conference in Dhaka.
“We want Delwar to reopen his five units as soon as possible so that the workers are employed,” she said. “If Delwar wants to close down his factories, he will have to pay the workers as per the law.”
Earlier, Mishu along with the nearly 1,600 workers of Tuba Group observed hunger strike for 11 days since July 28 to realise their due wages of three months and Eid bonus.
Later, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the garment makers' platform, and Delwar himself paid the workers' three months' salaries and overtime allowance.
The workers are yet to get the Eid bonus.