Doctors ‘stopped from helping’ Tuba protesters

Police have entered the Tuba Group's factory in Dhaka’s Badda area on Wednesday morning to 'clear out' activists of various labour organisations.

They also pushed out doctors who were with the workers during their hunger strike, Tuba Group Sramik Sangram Committee Convenor Moshrefa Mishu told bdnews24.com.

They are also stopping doctors from administering saline to workers rendered sick by hunger strike, she said.

“They’re trying to force us out. More than 200 workers have fallen sick after being on the hunger strike. Police won’t let doctors to go near them nor even carry saline.”

More than a thousand workers from Tuba Group’s five factories have been on hunger strike since Sunday last week to demand three months worth of unpaid salaries, overtime and bonus .

Garments Sramik Oikya Forum President Mishu was still with the workers at the seventh floor of Badda’s Hossain Market.

Some organisations are trying to force the workers to the BGMEA Bhaban where they will be given a portion of the dues, she claimed.

Police have denied her accusations saying they have been checking workers’ ID cards to expel only those who are ‘outsiders’.

After a meeting mediated by the government, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) decided to pay on Sunday two months salary to the workers using its own funds.

But the ‘Tuba Group Sramik Sangram Committee’ – an platform of 15 organisation -- has continued the protest with the factory workers.

Very few have turned out to the BGMEA Bhaban on Wednesday where arrangements were made to pay the workers since 10am.

Protesters confined

Numerous policemen were seen surrounding the protest site at Badda as workers’ payment were beginning to be disbursed at BGMEA offices in Karwan Bazar on Wednesday morning.

It was heard at 10am that four entrances to Hossain Market has been locked. But one new padlock was seen hanging on the main gate as well.

More than a hundred police personnel with water canons and armoured personnel carriers were in position while workers screamed from upstairs blaming the law-keepers for their 'confinement.'

Earlier on Wednesday morning, around 1,500 Tuba workers were locked inside their factory as the main entrance gate was bolted early on Wednesday.

Workers blamed the police for their confinement, but the law enforcers said it was a ploy to prevent the protestors from reaching the BGMEA office to collect their pending wages and allowances.

“Some of the workers were downstairs. They say they saw a policeman named ‘Jahangir’ lock the front gate, said Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra Assistant General Secretary Jony Talukder told bdnews24.com.

“I have spoken to the manager of Janata Bank which is on the third floor,” said Moshrefa Mishu. “He said police helped him get as the front gate was locked.”

Police broke the padlock to free the entrance at around 12pm and urged workers to collect their partial pay from BGMEA using the loudspeakers on a police van.

After that a large police team including female personnel armed with batons and helmets entered Hossain Market to expel ‘outsiders’.

Police action

"We have information that a lot of workers want to collect their wages from the BGMEA but are being stopped by those who do not work for Tuba," police's Assistant Deputy Commissioner (Gulshan Zone) Mahabub Hasan told bdnews24.com around 12.30pm.

"The workers will decide what they will do. We will check ID cards, those who fail to show them will be made to leave," he added.

About 20 to 25 people could be seen pushed out of the building and reporters were barred from entering the premise.

Garments Sramik Trade Union Kendra leader Monjur Moin said he was forced out as well. One of the doctors was also forced to leave, he said.

Two people said they showed their IDs to the police but were still expelled from the ground floor.

Tuba Group factory Tayef Design’s worker ‘Nupur’ fell sick and was taken to a hospital on a stretcher.

A procession was taken out by Ganatantrik Baam Morcha outside the building while the eviction was taking place.

Their chief coordinator Junaid Saki and some others tried to enter but were stopped by the police.

A police sub-inspector said they were not counting numbers and were checking IDs as part of their job when asked how many they forced to leave the building.

The police raid lasted until 2:30pm to push out protesters who were located on the fourth floor of the building, said Moshrefa Mishu.

“Badda OC MA Jalil came up to us on the seventh floor. He asked everyone who isn’t a worker of Tuba to leave. We are worried they’ll force us out too,” she said.