Over 60 RMG workers sued, one held in DEPZ

The managerial team of the Indian owned garment factory--Lenny Fanshion Ltd-- at Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, filed a case against over 60 workers for vandalising the factory and obstructing its operation when they were staging a demonstration on Monday, said police sources.

Md Shahriar, human resources manager of the factory, on Tuesday filed the case with Ashulia Police Station against 14 named and 50 unnamed workers accusing them of vandalising the factory.

On Monday, at least 15 workers were injured in a clash with police while they were demonstrating demanding gratuity, annual salary increment, over-time bills, tiffin break, and protesting physical assaults on them.

The factory was declared shut for the day to avert further untoward incident, and remained so till yesterday for the third consecutive day, witnesses and workers said. Police yesterday arrested Said Alom, a worker of the factory, in connection with the vandalism, said Md Selim Reza, sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station, also the investigation officer of the case. Contacted, Md Abdus Sobhan, general manager of DEPZ, said the workers were illegally demanding gratuity. "According to DEPZ law, workers are not given any gratuity" he added.

However, this correspondent did not find the managerial team to comment on the incident despite several attempts.