Treatment of garment workers
Photo: Tanvir Ahmed / Driknews
The way police pounced on the garment workers, the backbone of the garment sector, was unacceptable. Prior to her being elected prime minister, Sheikh Hasina was all for ensuring the dignity of every citizen of the country. Now when our largest foreign exchange earners are forced to come to the street to realize their demands for three month's outstanding salary arrears and other benefits, the government let loose the police on them. The raw treatment of the poor hapless garment workers makes me wonder whether this government regard the poor people as respectable human beings. Is it ethical or legal to shut down a garment factory without making alternative arrangements for their future livelihood and well-being? Far worse, the garment owners played with the lives of thousands of workers by not paying them the outstanding bills. The garment workers were protesting not for unemployment benefits but for the wages they earned with the sweat of their brows and at the cost of so many ailments caused by unhygienic environment and long working hours. The government instead of standing for their cause are ready with cudgel to suppress them. Did not these poor workers make wealth for the entrepreneurs and the country? And don't we treat them like African slaves?
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