Editorial
Vandalism is reprehensible
But meet the workers' legitimate demands
Workers taking to the streets on Saturday at Tejgaon industrial area, going on a rampage, damaging 20 factories and torching a bus were no doubt highly reprehensible but given its origins in demands for an increase in Iftar allowance and Eid bonus the matter sounded avoidable through timely dialogue and negotiations.
Tension has been mounting over the last couple of days as workers of the Nasa Mainland Garment Factory at Begunbari were reportedly getting a paltry sum as Iftar allowance which of course the owner has denied. The Nasa group authorities responding by shuttering down four units the trouble escalated with workers going on a rampage and smashing windowpanes of factories in the area. The workers became so edgy and gullible that they believed in a rumour that three workers of a factory were run over by a bus but actually they only sustained minor injuries.
The garment sector does not appear to be free from disturbances of one kind or the other despite the existence of tripartite agreement relating to their minimum wages and other facilities with the majority of factories also claiming compliance with them. Why must the relationship between the owners and garment workers in some units degenerate so much that the workers resort to vandalism and destructive behaviour? Why should an issue that can be thrashed out through an internal mechanism take an ugly turn and spill on to the streets creating law and order situation and obstruction to free flow of traffic? These questions beg answer.
BGMEA has attributed the latest series of violent protests at various garment units to 'conspiracy' of a certain quarter and a small number of rowdy workers inciting the violence. Merely saying this does not land us anywhere, let there be a probe and culprits, if any, found out. As long as the blame is not substantiated, our attention would be focussed on the negotiating capabilities or otherwise of BGMEA. We urge a dialogue between both sides and an amicable settlement between the employees and the employers.
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