We have been anxiously observing that the employers, instead of being sympathized to the economic crisis and genuine demand of the workers, have taken recourse to power position and force to suppress the movement. We have come to know through newspapers that the police force took a very undesirable role. We are also concerned on the reaction of the workers who renouncing the peaceful means of protest became violent at some stage of their movement. They have been involved in causing damage to the factories and also in engaging in clash with the police.

However, the BGMEA and the BKMEA have taken a wrong decision to shut down all the industries in the Ashulia Industrial Area and in fact have shut down the industries. But according to Section 2 of the Labour Act, only the owners of the industries can declare a lock out. The BGMEA or the BKMEA have no jurisdiction to take such a decision. In the circumstances, an acute crisis has emerged in the most potential income generating sector of the country, the garments industry, which is based on the financial capital of the owners and labour of the workers. Now millions of workers and their family members are going to face a critical situation.

In the present circumstances, we urge all the stakeholders concerned including the employers, the workers and the government, to resolve the crisis peacefully by taking such decisions and steps that are acceptable to all the parties. To save the industry, to save the lives of millions of workers from an inhumane condition and to save the national economy from an obvious crisis, we call upon the workers to avoid destructive programmes, and the owners, to abandon the idea of applying force in order to suppress the movement of the workers in demand of legitimate claims. We hope that the government also will dispose its responsibilities in this regard.