Hooligans out to destroy RMG sector

BGMEA warns of forced shutdown of factories
Hooligans are out again to create an unrest in the RMG sector ahead of holy Ramadan. According to an intelligence agency, 27 hooligans in Dhaka and Chittagong are directly involved with the unrest in RMG sector.
But the government is yet to come up with any stringent measures to nab these culprits who want to destroy the largest export sector of the country. At present the local leaders of the ruling party have become desperate to take control over some businesses of the RMG sector.
According to the BGMEA, a total of 69 RMG units witnessed workers unrest in the last four months.
Around 220 RMG factories came under attack last year and the unruly workers set fire to a factory. Even some high-rated factories in terms of working conditions and wage payment came under attack.
In the latest spell of violence, at least 150 people were injured and 35 vehicles were damaged when the workers went on rampage at Savar and Fatullah. The unruly workers also set fire to a police van during the clash with lawenforcers agencies.
The agitated garment workers put barricade on busy Dhaka-Aricha highway and Dhaka-Narayanganj road, causing traffic gridlock.
Some garment workers vandalized at least 15 factories in BSIC industrial area of Fatullah demanding their salary hike. They became more violent when a local Sramik League leader Kausar Ahmed Polash expressed solidarity with them.
The workers ransacked about 15 garment factories, including Calco Sweater, Rupayan Sweater, Pioneer Sweater, Rahim-Aziz Sweater, Pandemic Sweater, Al Amin Sweater, Madina RMG factory, Bay Cotton, SS Cotton, Al Madina Garments and Jazim Garments.
Besides, the incident of toll collection from RMG units enhanced in the recent times, as outlaws are frequently giving death threat to the entrepreneurs demanding toll by phone using the name of top terrors.
“We (RMG entrepreneurs) are receiving many phone calls everyday and the numbers of such calls have been increasing in the recent times, said Abdus Salam Murshedy, the president of BGMEA, at a press conference on Thursday.
Murshedy said at least 25 garment owners informed the BGMEA board this month that terror groups have given death threat to them and demanding handsome amount of money as toll.
He also said the prevailing situation is so critical that RMG owners and high officials of garments factories are fearing to attend offices.
“Polash is a listed terror of Fatullah area, who has long been engaged in toll collection and grabbing. Around 26 cases have been filed against him with the Fatullah police station including four murder cases,” Advocate Ismail Hossain, president of Bangladesh Textile Garment Workers Federation told The News Today on Tuesday.
Terming the attack a pre-planned one, he said wages might not be the prime reason of the unrest. The main motive behind such unruly activities and vandalism is to take control over the industrial area.
Garments sector is the vital engine of the country”s economic growth. In the outgoing fiscal year, shipments from the sector accounted for more than 76 per cent of the country”s $10.7 billion export earnings.
The export-oriented factories generated job for some 40 per cent of the country”s total industrial workforce, with women accounting for 80 per cent of the 2.5 million workers.
UNB adds: In the wake of violence and vandalism plaguing the country”s export industry, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said they wouldn”t have any other option but to shut down their apparel factories if the situation doesn”t improve.
BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy at the press conference in its conference room expressed their grave concern as the government did not take any action against the culprits who are behind the recent spate of “anarchy” in the RMG sector.
“We had a meeting with the Home Minister and the high officials of police force just two weeks ago, but the result is zero,” he said on a note of frustration, a day after unrest shook garment industrial belts in Dhaka”s Savar area and in Narayanganj.
He said the RMG factory owners wanted security and exemplary punishment of those responsible for the violent activities.
Responding to a question, the BGMEA chief indicated that the situation during the caretaker government”s two-year tenure was better.
“There were some restrictions during the emergency period,” he said about the immediate-past interim regime backed by the army that had conducted a crackdown on serious crime and corruption in an apolitical situation.
The apex trade body of the apparel industry blamed what they said inaction of the law-enforcing agencies for the ongoing spate of terrorism in RMG sector, extortion, vandalism and other criminal activities.
“Such destruction is going on as per a plan,” said Salam Murshedy.
UNB news from Savar adds: Workers went on rampage in five garment factories here leaving 10 people, including a policeman, injured on Tuesday.
About 400 workers of GC Fashion Wear at Gouripur in Ashulia demonstrated demanding payment of salary for the last month. They turned violent as the management assured them of payment after the lunch hour.
Later, they went to four other factories at Charabagh and Kumkumari and forced the workers to come out of their factories and ransacked the factories.
Ten people were injured as police aided by workers of Matshuka factory went to prevent the unruly workers.
Aminur Rahman, Managing Director of GC Fashion Wear, said they under financial stress due to global economic recession. That is why the payment of salary to workers was delayed by some days.

Courtesy of The News Today