Hundreds of ready-made garment (RMG) workers from eight factories under TNZ Group staged a sit-in protest at Kakrail Mosque intersection on Tuesday, demanding the immediate payment of their unpaid salaries, allowances, and Eid bonuses.
The demonstration began in front of Department of Labour in Dhaka, where the workers had initially gathered. As they attempted to march towards the residence of Chief Adviser Jamuna, police intercepted them at Kakrail intersection, prompting them to hold a sit-in on the spot.
According to the demonstrators, the TNZ Group owes more than Tk 50 crore to thousands of workers and staff members across its eight garment units, including TNZ Apparels Ltd, Apparel Plus Eco, Basic Clothing Ltd, Basic Knitwear Ltd, and Apparel Art Ltd.
This protest follows a similar week-long sit-in held before Eid-ul-Fitr in front of the Labour Department. At that time, talks were initiated with the help of the Ministry of Labour, and factory owners reportedly promised to settle all dues before the festival. Workers now claim those commitments were never honored.
"I haven't been paid for the last three months, and the Eid bonus hasn't been given either," said Mina, a long-time worker at Apparel Garments. "My monthly salary is Tk 12,500, and I've worked here for 12 years. The owner runs multiple factories, and they're shutting down one by one."
Another protester, Nasima, shared the harsh reality of her situation. "I have five children and I'm the only breadwinner. The owner has disappeared without paying us. We’ve come to the streets because we’re out of options."
Shafi Mia, also among the protesters, said, "We protested at the Labour Department earlier. Today, five of our representatives are inside the building. If they come out with positive news, we’ll leave. If not, we’ll keep protesting until our demands are met."
The workers are calling for urgent government intervention to resolve the crisis and ensure they receive their rightful dues ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha.
