Dhaka: Hundreds of garment workers staged a red-flag demonstration in the city Sunday for due compensation for the families of their 22 colleagues killed in a fierce fire at Garib and Garib Sweeter factory in Gazipur on February 25.  

They raised the demand from a rally held by National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) in front of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) bhaban.

The workers, holding red flags and banners, later submitted a memorandum of the demand to the BGMEA president.

NGWF president Amirul Haque Amin said the factory management took suggestions from three local NGOs in determining compensations for the victims’ families. The owners, however, held no discussions with workers in this regard, he alleged.

He said, “We sought intervention of BGMEA and the government to realize necessary compensation from the factory authority.”

Munsur Khaled, additional secretary of BGMEA, received the memorandum and assured workers of taking “necessary initiative”.

Comrade Kamrul Hassan, a central leader of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, a component of the ruling Awami League-led Grand Alliance, said his party expressed solidarity with the demands made by the workers.

BDST: 1230, May 16, 2010
RT/SMS/MUA/