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Workers at Southern Knitwear Limited in Kaliakair, Gazipur, staged a protest demanding the reinstatement of 17 laid-off workers and the resignation of two factory officials. The demonstration began around 8:00 AM on Saturday in the Baraichuti area of the upazila.
According to police and several workers, Southern Knitwear Limited had recently compiled a list of workers who had led various protests and programs to demand their rights. On Thursday, after the factory closed for the day, a notice announcing the layoff of 17 workers was posted at the main gate. The factory remained closed on Friday. On Saturday morning, when workers reported for duty, they learned about the layoffs and initiated a work stoppage around 8:00 AM.
The workers then staged a sit-in inside the factory premises, demanding the reinstatement of the laid-off workers and the resignation of the factory’s General Manager (GM) Nurul Islam and Deputy General Manager (DGM) Mizanur Rahman. Upon receiving the news, Gazipur Industrial Police, Kaliakair Police Station, and other law enforcement personnel attempted to pacify the workers and bring the situation under control. However, as of the last update at 10:00 AM, the protest was still ongoing.
A worker named Farhan Ahmed stated that the layoffs of the 17 workers were illegal and violated labor laws. He added that while workers had protested in the past to secure their legitimate rights, they had not caused any damage. The protests and programs were conducted peacefully to demand fair treatment.
