Staff Correspondent :
Garment workers of Russell Garments staged a protest by blocking roads in the Chashara Bijoy Stambha area of Narayanganj, demanding an end to worker layoffs, the resignation of the factory’s general manager (GM), and fulfillment of 19-point demands.
On Monday (22 December), they observed a sit-in and road blockade continuously for three hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
As a result, traffic movement in the Chashara area was severely disrupted, causing serious inconvenience to city residents. Later, at the request of the army, police, and local administration officials, the protesting workers withdrew from the Chashara area.
Akbar Hossain, a worker who participated in the protest, said, “The layoffs must be stopped and the GM must resign. We submitted memorandums to various offices, but no effective action has been taken regarding the workers’ issues.”
Another worker, Mosammat Parvin, said that when workers came to work on the morning of December 18, they learned that the factory management had announced an indefinite closure of the factory. Since then, they have been continuing their protests.
The workers alleged that on Sunday they staged a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, demanding the reopening of the factory and the resignation of the GM.
Although they were given assurances of a solution that afternoon, no resolution was ultimately reached. As a result, they said they were forced to block the road in Chashara in protest.
During the protest, Army Major Ayaz Abdullah addressed the workers, saying, “Please cooperate in maintaining law and order and remain calm.
At the end of the day, we are all citizens of this country. When roads are blocked and public suffering is created, ordinary people face hardship. Therefore, we request you to clear the roads.”
Those present at the scene included Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Tarek Al Mehdi, Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Khandakar Shamit Raja, Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Ismail, President of the Central Committee of the Bangladesh Textile Garments Workers Federation, and Dulal Saha, District President of the Garments Workers Trade Union Center.
