Nationwide protests continue demanding clearance of dues, bonuses, and rations for garment and tea workers before Eid

Nationwide protests continue demanding the clearance of arrears, bonuses, and rations for garment and tea workers before Eid. Standing by the workers, the Progressive Student Alliance of Private Universities has condemned the government's falsehoods and dilatory tactics. Over the past few days, workers of several garment factories including TNZ Apparels, Apparels Plus Eco, and Stylecrafts have been staging sit-in programs in front of the Department of Labour demanding their overdue wages and bonuses.

During the sit-in program, Ramprasad Singh Johnny, a worker of Stylecrafts, passed away. Besides, state forces attacked students who expressed solidarity with the workers' demands. Despite the sit-in, garment workers have still not received their dues. The labour adviser claimed that workers' wages have been paid, but in reality, it is only a partial salary for one month, while the rest of the salary remains overdue.

Not only garment workers, but workers of three tea gardens (Burjan, Chhoragaon, Kalagull) under the Burjan Tea Company in Sylhet also demonstrated demanding 14 weeks of overdue wages and rations. About two thousand and five hundred workers are living in extreme distress without receiving their rightful rations and wages. The Progressive Student Alliance of Private Universities has alleged that instead of realizing the legitimate dues of the workers, the government is protecting the interests of the business class.

They claimed that although the Hasina government was ousted, the interim government is showing the same discriminatory behavior toward workers. The student alliance stated, "If the arrears, bonuses, and rations of the workers are not paid and the attacks by state forces on workers and students are not tried, a united movement of students, workers, and the masses will be built up."