[Full Statement in Bengali Below]

Shabnam Hafiz, Garment Workers Activist Being Dragged by Police

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) denounces the occurrence held at the factory of Tuba Group when all entrances of Hossain Market in Badda, Dhaka were locked down, causing  workers on hunger strike to become stuck inside the factory and  their leaders been profusely beaten and detained for hours.

According to the information given by workers, on 6 August 2014 morning, they got stuck inside the factory when police locked all  entrances of Hossain Market in Badda. The market and factory area was also surrounded by police as well as hired goons and they forced the medical team, who were aiding ill workers on hunger strike, to leave the premises.

We strongly condemn this barbaric approach of trying to suppress the protesting workers and preventing their medical aid. Garment workers at Tuba Group were on hunger strike since 28 July 2014, demanding their arrears of wage for three months (May-July 2014), overtimes, and Eid allowances. On 6 August 2014, policemen confined workers inside the factory since morning and later made a barbaric assault on them around noon. They also assaulted the workers’ leaders and human rights activists who came to express solidarity with the workers on hunger strike. We believe that the way law enforcers have dealt with workers who were peacefully protesting in demand of their wage, was excessive and a matter of grave concern.

We demand the immediate release of those persons who are detained, exemplary punishment of the police officials who made excessive use of force and to take necessary actions to meet the legitimate demand of the workers of Tuba Group.