Workers of factories closed 4yrs ago block highway in Savar over unpaid dues

Approximately 7,500 workers of Lenny Fashions and Lenny Apparels in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone, Savar, shut down four years ago, held a protest blocking the Nabinagar-Chandra highway to demand their unpaid dues.

The protest brought traffic to a standstill, causing severe congestion on both sides of the road, with the workers announcing that they would not leave the highway until their dues were cleared.

Law enforcement personnel were on standby to prevent any untoward incidents, and the Industrial Police said efforts were underway to mediate between the business authorities and the workers to resolve the issue.

According to the protesters, the factory authorities closed the two establishments citing the Covid-19 pandemic but left three months of salaries, leave encashments and service benefits pending.

They said despite the factory shutting down four years ago, they had yet to receive their outstanding payments, accusing the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) of failing to fulfil its promises repeatedly. 

One former worker of Lenny Apparels, Md Islam said, the factory authorities owed him Tk44,000, including one month’s salary and service benefits, when it closed four years ago. 

“I have not received a single penny. Even though the authorities have promised payment on [November] 30, we suspect they will fail again, which is why we are blocking the road today."

Faridul Islam, organizing secretary of the National Garment Workers Federation, said Lenny Fashions and Lenny Apparels shut down in 2021 due to financial issues. 

However, the service benefits and other dues of the workers remained unpaid, he added.

When contacted, Dhaka EPZ Executive Director Md Abdus Sobhan said he would address the matter later.