More than a week after Eid-ul-Fitr, workers from three readymade garment (RMG) factories in Gazipur staged demonstrations on Monday afternoon, demanding unpaid wages, Eid bonuses, and other arrears owed by their employers.
The protest took place in the Mogarkhal area of Gazipur city, near the TNZ factory, one of the factories under a larger industrial group. As workers gathered in front of the factory gates, employees from sister concerns joined in solidarity, forming a unified front against what they described as persistent delays, broken promises, and worker exploitation.
Despite repeated protests in the weeks leading up to Eid, the factory management reportedly paid each worker only Tk 9,100, leaving three months' worth of unpaid salaries and bonuses still outstanding. Many of the workers said they were forced to celebrate Eid with empty pockets and growing uncertainty.
“We were given hope, promises, and partial payments. But hope doesn’t feed our children or pay our rent,” said Md Arman Hossain, one of the workers’ representatives who addressed the rally. Other labor leaders, including Shahin Alam, Md Shariful, and Shahidul Islam, also spoke at the demonstration, urging immediate action and vowing to continue their movement until all dues are cleared.
The workers accused the factory owners of exploiting their labor while ignoring their most basic rights, including timely wage payments. Some speakers recalled the role RMG workers played in last year’s anti-government movement, which contributed to the ousting of the Awami League government.
“We fought on the streets for a new system. But even under a new administration, we are still waiting for justice. Still waiting to be paid what we earned with sweat and toil,” said Shahin Alam, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
Leaders also expressed disappointment in the lack of enforcement by labor authorities, urging the government to hold factory owners accountable and ensure better protection for workers across the RMG sector.
A crucial meeting between labor representatives and officials from the Ministry of Labour is expected to take place in Dhaka on Tuesday, where the issue will be discussed in hopes of reaching a resolution.
Bangladesh’s RMG industry, the backbone of its export economy, continues to face criticism over labor rights, wage disputes, and workplace conditions, despite contributing billions to the national GDP annually.
As workers in Gazipur press on with their protests, they send a clear message: prosperity must be shared, and justice must be more than a promise—it must be paid in full.
