Former employees besiege Grameenphone HQ over dues

They are protesting for their dues and have kept current staff trapped inside the office since morning

Former employees of Grameenphone have kept the telecom giant’s headquarters under siege since Tuesday morning over demands related to their dues, preventing the current staff inside from leaving the premises until midnight.

Police and law-enforcing personnel have been deployed at the scene.

By midnight, the protesters were still demonstrating outside the “GP House” in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area, while employees who arrived at work in the morning remained trapped inside.

Assistant Commissioner HM Shafiqul Rahman of the Badda Zone police was present at the location.

“The former employees have been here since the morning, demanding that Grameenphone authorities sit with them for discussions.

“However, Grameenphone has said, since the protesters have already filed lawsuits, the matters will be settled in court. That’s where the standoff lies,” he said.

The police officer added that as the protesters continued their sit-in, employees who had entered the office in the morning were unable to leave even by midnight, while the demonstrators refused to move.

Under the banner of the Grameenphone Terminated and Deprived Workers Unity Council, the former employees have been protesting for several days, demanding a 5 percent share of the company's profits along with penalty interest for delays in payment.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the protesters warned of intensifying their movement if Grameenphone did not engage in talks.

In response, Grameenphone said: “A group of former employees has been gathering outside GP House for several days over employment-related demands. To our knowledge, most of them left the company years ago and received their lawful entitlements. Additionally, their claims are currently under judicial review. Grameenphone respects the legal process, and these matters will be settled in court.

"As a company committed to providing uninterrupted telecommunications services nationwide, Grameenphone also respects the right to peaceful assembly. However, these individuals have unlawfully blocked access to GP House, restricting free movement for our employees and customers. Grameenphone upholds the country’s laws and prioritises the safety of its employees and customers. Law-enforcing agencies have been deployed in the area to ensure security for individuals and property.”